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Blues of Autumn
Police Chief Norris Tanager is one happy guy. He came to the Adirondacks because he heard small-town cops spend their days helping kittens cross the road and rescuing little old ladies out of trees. Or something like that. And so far, things have been quiet as promised.
Paul Briar is not so happy. He came to these mountains to spark some romance in his marriage. Now his wife is missing and presumed drowned.
And poor Dr. Simon Reesor is downright devastated. He came here to practice medicine in a small hospital. Last night his wife was brutally murdered, blown up in her car.
Police Chief Norris Tanager came to these beautiful mountains to escape the ugliness of the big city. Too bad. Seems like ugly just follows some cops around.
Paul Briar is not so happy. He came to these mountains to spark some romance in his marriage. Now his wife is missing and presumed drowned.
And poor Dr. Simon Reesor is downright devastated. He came here to practice medicine in a small hospital. Last night his wife was brutally murdered, blown up in her car.
Police Chief Norris Tanager came to these beautiful mountains to escape the ugliness of the big city. Too bad. Seems like ugly just follows some cops around.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
April 22, 2020
Overall Rating = 4.83
Storyline & Concept = 5
Writing & Delivery = 4.5
Editorial = 4.5
The setting of the Adirondack mountains in upstate New York is the perfect foil for Police Chief Norris Tanager in Blues of Autumn. The main character of the novel left a big city police department to become the one and only law enforcement officer for a supposedly crime-free small town. Unfortunately for him, serious crime found its way into his jurisdiction and left a trail of dead bodies and a whodunit that only Tanager could solve.
Within the first few pages of this novel, I was reminded of Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone character. However, it wasn’t long before the protagonist became a beloved character in his own right. This is an engaging mystery that is heavily laced with laugh-out-loud humor and well-developed, interesting characters, even down to Stanley, the lovable, sometimes-bumbling pooch, not unlike his master. I sincerely hope this becomes a series. I’d be the first to grab a copy of the next-in-line.
Sublime Line: “Big-city crime hits a small town in the Adirondacks, and an eclectic and well-developed cast of characters leads us through this hilarious, engaging mystery.”
Storyline & Concept = 5
Writing & Delivery = 4.5
Editorial = 4.5
The setting of the Adirondack mountains in upstate New York is the perfect foil for Police Chief Norris Tanager in Blues of Autumn. The main character of the novel left a big city police department to become the one and only law enforcement officer for a supposedly crime-free small town. Unfortunately for him, serious crime found its way into his jurisdiction and left a trail of dead bodies and a whodunit that only Tanager could solve.
Within the first few pages of this novel, I was reminded of Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone character. However, it wasn’t long before the protagonist became a beloved character in his own right. This is an engaging mystery that is heavily laced with laugh-out-loud humor and well-developed, interesting characters, even down to Stanley, the lovable, sometimes-bumbling pooch, not unlike his master. I sincerely hope this becomes a series. I’d be the first to grab a copy of the next-in-line.
Sublime Line: “Big-city crime hits a small town in the Adirondacks, and an eclectic and well-developed cast of characters leads us through this hilarious, engaging mystery.”
June 27, 2021
Amusing & Intriguing Crime Story
This book had just what l needed after reading so many just plain drama, murder, serial killer books lately. This humor laced mystery was so enjoyable to read yet still whetted my “l gotta see if l can discover the killer” instinct before the story’s over. It had everything a reader could desire with interesting well developed characters, multiple unusual crimes, a chilling setting, literally, and a lovable pet dog to boot. One of the very crime books EVER, in my opinion.
This book had just what l needed after reading so many just plain drama, murder, serial killer books lately. This humor laced mystery was so enjoyable to read yet still whetted my “l gotta see if l can discover the killer” instinct before the story’s over. It had everything a reader could desire with interesting well developed characters, multiple unusual crimes, a chilling setting, literally, and a lovable pet dog to boot. One of the very crime books EVER, in my opinion.
July 21, 2020
I think you will like this book
I read some of the reviews and decided to read it and see if I agreed with them. I agreed with most of them, but I found the book to be very interesting, it was more of a good mystery than a funny read as some said. I do hope and would love to see another book with the same main charter in it come out.
I read some of the reviews and decided to read it and see if I agreed with them. I agreed with most of them, but I found the book to be very interesting, it was more of a good mystery than a funny read as some said. I do hope and would love to see another book with the same main charter in it come out.
June 19, 2021
Not a bad detective story, but the main characters constant use of "witty", sarcastic comments wore a little thin by the mid-point.
July 8, 2021
I’ve been invited to the Adirondacks on several occasions. An invitation I comfortably fob off in real life, but usually accept in fiction, and so off to the mountains…
Meet Norris Tanager. The protagonist in a clichéd city cop comes to small town for an easier life scenario. Life is indeed easier in the Adirondacks, quieter too. Norris is essentially a social worker/mediator/cop, at least, but the fires to put out are consistently small, leaving him plenty of time to play in his rhythm and blues band and spend time with his four legged companion, Stanley.
And then the proverbial sh*t hits the fan, just as the falls rolls around, hence the title. There’s a murder or a prominent local woman, not just a garden variety murder either, but an explosive one. And from then one the body count starts going up. And Norris, a legendary easy going, joke it off, kinda guy has to solve this sudden crime wave or die trying.
That makes it sound serious, but it’s actually a surprisingly, refreshingly funny crime story. Or at least humorous. Which is to say you won’t pee your pants or roll off your seat laughing, but you may experience amusement at times. A not inconsiderable amount either, for a book that has violence, murder and a main theme of abortion throughout.
Oh Norris, all he wanted was an easy life, a chance to seduce a rumored lesbian, some time to play the blues. Funny how life works out. But at any rate, this was a pretty decent read. The author has written for tv before, among other things, so his style had that slick pro finish to it. And a pretty decent plot twist in the end too. What more can you ask for from a random freebie.
Meet Norris Tanager. The protagonist in a clichéd city cop comes to small town for an easier life scenario. Life is indeed easier in the Adirondacks, quieter too. Norris is essentially a social worker/mediator/cop, at least, but the fires to put out are consistently small, leaving him plenty of time to play in his rhythm and blues band and spend time with his four legged companion, Stanley.
And then the proverbial sh*t hits the fan, just as the falls rolls around, hence the title. There’s a murder or a prominent local woman, not just a garden variety murder either, but an explosive one. And from then one the body count starts going up. And Norris, a legendary easy going, joke it off, kinda guy has to solve this sudden crime wave or die trying.
That makes it sound serious, but it’s actually a surprisingly, refreshingly funny crime story. Or at least humorous. Which is to say you won’t pee your pants or roll off your seat laughing, but you may experience amusement at times. A not inconsiderable amount either, for a book that has violence, murder and a main theme of abortion throughout.
Oh Norris, all he wanted was an easy life, a chance to seduce a rumored lesbian, some time to play the blues. Funny how life works out. But at any rate, this was a pretty decent read. The author has written for tv before, among other things, so his style had that slick pro finish to it. And a pretty decent plot twist in the end too. What more can you ask for from a random freebie.
June 23, 2020
The writing style of Richard Adamson in “Blues of Autumn” was thoroughly entertaining. Set in a small Adirondack one-cop town, Chief of Police Tanager finds himself looking for petty criminals like yarn nappers, which is fine with him. His experience as a Detective in a big city left him more than happy to settle for small town life.
But when murder finds his small part of paradise, Tanager uses his wit and his wits to solve the crimes. I’ll definitely keep my eyes peeled for the next Tanager story.
But when murder finds his small part of paradise, Tanager uses his wit and his wits to solve the crimes. I’ll definitely keep my eyes peeled for the next Tanager story.
May 11, 2020
I picked up this book based on the favourable recommendation of a writer whose own work has been rewarded with the Leacock medal for humour (in fact he also had a runner-up novel for that same award).
So, I expected to be rolling in the aisle, as they say, and to be sure there are many chuckle-worthy passages, even a few belly-laughers.
While I am not familiar enough with the genres to state unequivocally that it qualifies as a mystery, or a detective story, it evoked those for me. Big-city cop avoids his potentially PTSD-checkered past in Appalachian upstate New York, where his bucolic beat of lost kittens and marauding racoons is disrupted by backwoods mayhem - the "Dukes of Hazzard" run amok.
I think the book will appeal to lots of male readers of a certain age, but the male chauvinist narrative at times was cringe-worthy.
Still, it's a quick read, and not too challenging, though it wouldn't pass muster as a Hallmark movie.
So, I expected to be rolling in the aisle, as they say, and to be sure there are many chuckle-worthy passages, even a few belly-laughers.
While I am not familiar enough with the genres to state unequivocally that it qualifies as a mystery, or a detective story, it evoked those for me. Big-city cop avoids his potentially PTSD-checkered past in Appalachian upstate New York, where his bucolic beat of lost kittens and marauding racoons is disrupted by backwoods mayhem - the "Dukes of Hazzard" run amok.
I think the book will appeal to lots of male readers of a certain age, but the male chauvinist narrative at times was cringe-worthy.
Still, it's a quick read, and not too challenging, though it wouldn't pass muster as a Hallmark movie.
June 29, 2021
Well Done!
A fast-paced, well written and actually funny who-done it! I loved all the humorous lines that underscored the serious subjects. Totally enjoyed this great read!
A fast-paced, well written and actually funny who-done it! I loved all the humorous lines that underscored the serious subjects. Totally enjoyed this great read!
May 28, 2020
What a great cast of characters! I loved the first chapter of the book, where we meet low-key Police Chief Norris Tanger, currently residing in the Adirondacks. He's playing bass guitar with a band in a typical small town bar. He's not that busy anyway in a town that sees little action that would require his intervention.
A bar fight isn't a compelling enough reason for the Chief to throw down his guitar and jump off the portable riser that served as a stage, just to set things straight. It wasn't really his fight, right? And hey, he's the bass player, the band needs him. But then an explosion rocks the bar, and darn it, he's back on duty.
A car in the parking lot has blown up with his good friend's wife in it. And this is where we get the true measure of the man. Chief Norris pulls her out of the burning car, and from there we come to understand his integrity as he pursues the killer. Plus, as a bonus, we get a taste of his wackiness through his sense of humor.
What follows is a police procedural with twists and turns meant to keep you guessing. The author did a good job of that, which I always appreciate in a suspense book, especially when it is this well done.
I trust my own judgment in books, but I value my husband's as well. While he was reading it, he laughed out loud and looked at me and said, "This author is really good." Richard Adamson is indeed a good author who wrote an enjoyable book.
A bar fight isn't a compelling enough reason for the Chief to throw down his guitar and jump off the portable riser that served as a stage, just to set things straight. It wasn't really his fight, right? And hey, he's the bass player, the band needs him. But then an explosion rocks the bar, and darn it, he's back on duty.
A car in the parking lot has blown up with his good friend's wife in it. And this is where we get the true measure of the man. Chief Norris pulls her out of the burning car, and from there we come to understand his integrity as he pursues the killer. Plus, as a bonus, we get a taste of his wackiness through his sense of humor.
What follows is a police procedural with twists and turns meant to keep you guessing. The author did a good job of that, which I always appreciate in a suspense book, especially when it is this well done.
I trust my own judgment in books, but I value my husband's as well. While he was reading it, he laughed out loud and looked at me and said, "This author is really good." Richard Adamson is indeed a good author who wrote an enjoyable book.
July 7, 2021
1,5
At the beginning it was okay. I liked the setup, the slow pace of life in this small town, the witty comments of the main character. I hoped that the book would be a slow burner and the plot would pick up later, making it a good mystery.
But it didn't happened. With every page I was becoming a bit more annoyed and less intrigued. It was boring at the end. So I skipped three - four chapters and ... got to the final. Nothing surprising! More or less expected.
It wasn't all so bad, but I wouldn't say it was a good read. The first part was good, but afterwards it started spiraling downwards. I think the author, maybe, lost his perspective somewhere in between and just wanted to wrap up the book. Some of the scenes didn't make too much sense for me; were a bit off-kilt.
I liked the dog though. Maybe he is the coolest of them all :-).
At the beginning it was okay. I liked the setup, the slow pace of life in this small town, the witty comments of the main character. I hoped that the book would be a slow burner and the plot would pick up later, making it a good mystery.
But it didn't happened. With every page I was becoming a bit more annoyed and less intrigued. It was boring at the end. So I skipped three - four chapters and ... got to the final. Nothing surprising! More or less expected.
It wasn't all so bad, but I wouldn't say it was a good read. The first part was good, but afterwards it started spiraling downwards. I think the author, maybe, lost his perspective somewhere in between and just wanted to wrap up the book. Some of the scenes didn't make too much sense for me; were a bit off-kilt.
I liked the dog though. Maybe he is the coolest of them all :-).
July 5, 2021
Good mystery
Start with a wise-cracking chief of police who would rather place bass with his band, add a few unique characters, some realistic and others not so much. Now throw in a few crimes is a small Adirondack town, and you have a pretty good book. I read reviews before downloading a book, so I expected a funny story. Don’t know why reviewers found this to be either hilarious or comedic. None of the subject matter is funny. Just, as I said, a wise cracking main character. Overall, I liked the story. On the downside, I cannot fathom why writers need to throw the f-bomb all over. I don’t want to hear the realism line either. It’s unnecessary, uneducated, and disgusting.
Start with a wise-cracking chief of police who would rather place bass with his band, add a few unique characters, some realistic and others not so much. Now throw in a few crimes is a small Adirondack town, and you have a pretty good book. I read reviews before downloading a book, so I expected a funny story. Don’t know why reviewers found this to be either hilarious or comedic. None of the subject matter is funny. Just, as I said, a wise cracking main character. Overall, I liked the story. On the downside, I cannot fathom why writers need to throw the f-bomb all over. I don’t want to hear the realism line either. It’s unnecessary, uneducated, and disgusting.
July 7, 2021
Winner
Not my usual read - murder/detective but the title page caught my eye and then the writing style sucked me in .
The story is told by in sarky first person by Chief Tanager, ex New York cop who’s now keeping himself sane by playing mountain town policing and weekly blues music gigs., accompanied by his dog.
His conversation and observations made me laugh.
Violence and homicides suddenly disturb his peace and serious topics are tackled along the way. I’m not one for blood and guts reading and this had the minimum detail to satisfy me.
The conclusion is OTT but I was entertained enough to allow it!
I’ll be looking for more from this author.
Not my usual read - murder/detective but the title page caught my eye and then the writing style sucked me in .
The story is told by in sarky first person by Chief Tanager, ex New York cop who’s now keeping himself sane by playing mountain town policing and weekly blues music gigs., accompanied by his dog.
His conversation and observations made me laugh.
Violence and homicides suddenly disturb his peace and serious topics are tackled along the way. I’m not one for blood and guts reading and this had the minimum detail to satisfy me.
The conclusion is OTT but I was entertained enough to allow it!
I’ll be looking for more from this author.
April 12, 2026
Read as a Kindle about a former buffalo detective, chief tanager, now sole member and chief of a small town in Maine Police Department, who is also a bass player in a local band. A friend‘s wife is blown up in a car bomb that appeared to have been meant for his friend Paul. Then there are several apparent kidnappings and tanager and Lyndsey, owner of local in hike into remote lake and cabin, save woman and newly born baby, kill several bad guys and live happily ever after. Nothing special about the mystery or characters and will not read further in the series.
May 9, 2020
Norris Tanager left his job as a police officer in the city to become the police chief in a small mountain town. He was hoping to get away from the ugliness of big city crime and be able to focus more on playing music. Sadly we don’t always get what we wish for. He has to deal with a flasher, burglaries, a car bomb, and a murder.
The characters are interesting, there’s enough going on to hold your interest and it comes to a satisfying conclusion. All good things in a book.
The characters are interesting, there’s enough going on to hold your interest and it comes to a satisfying conclusion. All good things in a book.
June 20, 2020
Got this as a first reviewer and I really liked it. I've recently been reading the Longmire series and there is a little bit of a resemblance, but it's totally different in terms of location (small town Adirondacks), which makes it a much different story but still as enjoyable. Tanager is likable, the story reads fast, the end has a bit of a twist and the writing style is spot on with enough humor to make it enjoyable for hammock reading. Would read more if it became a series.
July 4, 2021
POLICE CHIEF NORRIS TANAGER MAKES A JOKE OUT OF EVERYTHING SO IT SEEMS, UNDERNEATH HE IS A REAL SERIOUS GUY. I LIKED HIM A LOT, TOO SOME I GUESS HE COMES OFF AS SUPERFICIAL, ON CLOSER INSPECTION YOU’D SEE JUST HOW DEEP HE IS.THIS WAS FUNNY AND SERIOUS WITH A GOOD MYSTERY STORYLINE. SUPER ENJOYABLE I FINISHED IT IN AN AFTERNOON, COULD’NT STOP READING , SORRY WHEN IT ENDED. I WONDERED IF THIS AUTHOR HAS ANY OTHER BOOKS OUT, COULD’NT FIND ANY? ;D
July 11, 2021
Blues of Autumn
Being from North Central New York State the Adirondack mountains have been an ever present wonderful part of my life. Richard Adamsons novel's fictional description was a less then fair account of a rural small village and the beauty of the" Adirondacks". His story line was interesting and sadly true, I personally do not advocate abortion, I do feel woman have a right to choose. Its a decision for a women and her God, its not the public business.
Being from North Central New York State the Adirondack mountains have been an ever present wonderful part of my life. Richard Adamsons novel's fictional description was a less then fair account of a rural small village and the beauty of the" Adirondacks". His story line was interesting and sadly true, I personally do not advocate abortion, I do feel woman have a right to choose. Its a decision for a women and her God, its not the public business.
April 29, 2020
A clever multifaceted mystery
What's not to like about a hero who left the Buffalo Police Force for a job as the police chief (one and only officer) in a tiny Adirondack town who plays bass in a blues band on weekends and has a classic New Yorker's smart mouth. This book was lots of fun.
What's not to like about a hero who left the Buffalo Police Force for a job as the police chief (one and only officer) in a tiny Adirondack town who plays bass in a blues band on weekends and has a classic New Yorker's smart mouth. This book was lots of fun.
July 14, 2020
Good summer read, wish there was more to follow.
The characters are engaging and amusing. The storyline is unique and yet moves in a direction that I wasn't completely expecting, which is a good thing. I gave it 4 stars as it had a few too many twists for me make it believable.
I would like to see a follow up book with the main character however.
The characters are engaging and amusing. The storyline is unique and yet moves in a direction that I wasn't completely expecting, which is a good thing. I gave it 4 stars as it had a few too many twists for me make it believable.
I would like to see a follow up book with the main character however.
July 16, 2020
Funny and gripping
The book is for anyone who knows or would like to know the north countryAd of NewYork State. The book carried me back to the Adirondacks after many years of missing them. The main character and his dog are belly laugh funny and the plot line is interesting and made the book hard to put down.
The book is for anyone who knows or would like to know the north countryAd of NewYork State. The book carried me back to the Adirondacks after many years of missing them. The main character and his dog are belly laugh funny and the plot line is interesting and made the book hard to put down.
September 16, 2020
Returning to the Adirondacks
Having hiked and camped in the locale of this novel I enjoyed thinking back. The story itself is an added plus. The plot flows with ease and characters are well developed. It deals well with a current social concern without becoming a negative to the enjoyment of the action
Having hiked and camped in the locale of this novel I enjoyed thinking back. The story itself is an added plus. The plot flows with ease and characters are well developed. It deals well with a current social concern without becoming a negative to the enjoyment of the action
September 29, 2020
I was surprised & delighted as to how interesting & well-written this book is. As a fan of mystery books & TV shows, I usually figure out plot lines & whodunnits, but author Richard Adamson succeeded in keeping me guessing til the end. A rare delight! His writing is clever, entertaining & fun.
Cannot wait until he writes another book-- hopefully that will be soon!
Anne J, California
Cannot wait until he writes another book-- hopefully that will be soon!
Anne J, California
June 26, 2021
Try to keep the characters straight...
Not the worst I've read. Shut down the last three books I started. About 50 years ago I taught English, and would read 250 - 325 books a year just to find which books my kids could read. You can put back about 3 out of every 5 and it's even worse today.Book has a terrible ending, before the candle light dinner.
Not the worst I've read. Shut down the last three books I started. About 50 years ago I taught English, and would read 250 - 325 books a year just to find which books my kids could read. You can put back about 3 out of every 5 and it's even worse today.Book has a terrible ending, before the candle light dinner.
July 1, 2021
I'm not sure why I didn't like this book more. Possibly because I didn't like the main character. I got tired of his wisecracking and sarcasm. I also got tired of the thinly disguised sexism.
I seemed to be on track to give it 3 stars,but the farther along the book went, the less plausible it seemed. By the end, it was almost laughable.
I seemed to be on track to give it 3 stars,but the farther along the book went, the less plausible it seemed. By the end, it was almost laughable.
July 3, 2021
Small town cop, in the far north, must solve a murder and a missing. pregnant woman.
A pregnant woman goes missing. The wife of a abortionist doctor is blown up. A former Buffalo city copy, turned small town cop, must do a lot of digging to finally unravel everything. The story gets a little convoluted, but was enjoyable.
A pregnant woman goes missing. The wife of a abortionist doctor is blown up. A former Buffalo city copy, turned small town cop, must do a lot of digging to finally unravel everything. The story gets a little convoluted, but was enjoyable.
December 16, 2022
Really Good!
Exciting, , unexpected situations in a small mountain town in November! Summer tourists are gone and winter snow enthusiasts have not yet arrived! No one is as perceived, everything is smoke and mirrors, and all mystery, clues, deaths, accidents, and crimes are seemingly unrelated until the final confrontation! Totally unpredictable and unexpected events!
Exciting, , unexpected situations in a small mountain town in November! Summer tourists are gone and winter snow enthusiasts have not yet arrived! No one is as perceived, everything is smoke and mirrors, and all mystery, clues, deaths, accidents, and crimes are seemingly unrelated until the final confrontation! Totally unpredictable and unexpected events!
August 26, 2025
Great read!
Lots of action, funny quips, fantastic dog, and ALMOST a love story...after all two people sharing a sleeping bag in the snow...? Some big surprises that kept me guessing. The best part I won't share, but it is well worth the read. Would recommend it to anyone who likes cops, dogs, beautiful ladies, music and mysteries.
Lots of action, funny quips, fantastic dog, and ALMOST a love story...after all two people sharing a sleeping bag in the snow...? Some big surprises that kept me guessing. The best part I won't share, but it is well worth the read. Would recommend it to anyone who likes cops, dogs, beautiful ladies, music and mysteries.
April 26, 2020
Outdoor excitement
This book took you into the mountains and kept you wondering if you could get everyone out alive. I was kept guessing til the very end who was responsible for the missing woman and was she dead . I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book.
This book took you into the mountains and kept you wondering if you could get everyone out alive. I was kept guessing til the very end who was responsible for the missing woman and was she dead . I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book.
June 13, 2020
Reminded me of Jesse Stone and Joe Gunther characters. I would have rated it lower except the ending surprised me. I had guessed one of the murderers but not all the connections. Too much alcohol, violence, and death for me. I hate when animals are threatened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2020
Fun Read, from up north in the 'Daks!
I liked it. I live in the southern Adirondacks, so can relate to the people and small town descriptions. It was a quick fun read, and I liked the lead characters.
Hope Mr Adamson writes a follow-up to this book. Will be looking forward to it!
I liked it. I live in the southern Adirondacks, so can relate to the people and small town descriptions. It was a quick fun read, and I liked the lead characters.
Hope Mr Adamson writes a follow-up to this book. Will be looking forward to it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews