Murder Most Fowl

Sheriff Dan Rhodes #7

by Bill Crider

Blacklin County, Texas, Sheriff Dan Rhodes investigates a crime wave of emu-rustling and a murder that may be related to the theft of the valuable birds. By the author of Booked for a Hanging.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

200 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Taught English at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Tex., and went on to become the chair of the Division of English and Fine Arts at Alvin Community College in Alvin, Tex.; prolific writer of mystery, science fiction, western, horror, and children's books, not to mention short stories, articles, reviews, and blog posts; perhaps best known for his Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery series.

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If one were a person whose tongue were firmly pressed against their cheek, then I guess it would be fair to say Bill Crider's seventh installment of the Dan Rhodes saga has gone to the birds. However, Mr. Crider avoids any foul language regarding the Fowl's in question, though foul things do go on in this installment.

We learn that Emu's are becoming a major problem in Sheriff Dan Rhodes county. Lots of folks are raising them. The birds are not branded and are generally hard to tell apart.
When the theft of a couple of Emu's causes the Sheriff to investigate the crime it leads him to the death of a local man who was shot and place in an outhouse, and that outhouse was subsequently pushed into the river, and was floating past the place where a local minister was baptizing one of his flock.

We also learn that Emu's don't taste like chicken. Speaking of chicken Rhodes must also deal with a Cockfighting ring in the county. Which to no surprise brings up the famous pulp book by Charles Wllleford "Cockfighter". References to old mystery novels abound in the books as do classic television shows and classic movies.

One observation about this entry in the series is that The Sheriff gets beat up less often than in previous books. However, funny/bad stuff does happen to him in his pursuit of the killer(s).

I am happy to report that Sheriff Rhodes still likes his bologna sandwiches and can't seem to find the time to exercise.

This was a fun and entertaining read. Both thumbs up.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery.
Rhodes catches some drunk young men shooting at a port-a-pottie they stole and threw in the river. When it's pulled out, there is a dead body inside.
The plot thickens with emus and cock fighting all figuring in...
This is the 7th book in the series.
As always the characters are well written and the mystery is set up well.

[Rhea Folland · Rating 3 out of 5]

still undecided about actual developing plot... storyline interesting but gets kind of scattered through the book.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book moves fast. It's only 200 pages, but it was my workbag book so didn't always have time to read. When I did, though....
It sort of felt like reading a cozy/amateur sleuth, with the humor and not overly violent actions, but mostly the humor. But the main character is the county sheriff, so definitely not cozy/amateur sleuth.
I like the main character, Sheriff Dan Rhodes, for all that this is the first book in this series I've read. He has to put up with quite a lot with his staff and the folks that live in his county. His wife has him eating more healthfully than he'd like but he loves her and he likes that his pants are fitting better.
He goes about the investigation that starts out as disturbing the peace with someone chaining themselves in protest to the doors of the local WalMart and there's the emu rustling and it all meanders into murder. Plenty of suspects and Sheriff Rhodes looks into everyone in a rather haphazardly logical manner.
I will be looking for more from this series and this author. I can definitely recommend this book.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Murder Most Fowl” sees Sheriff Dan Rhodes investigating emu theft, a murder in a portable toilet, and cock-fighting.
Those who have read the previous books in the series know exactly what to expect - a lot of down home humour, some violence, and solid police work.
Space is also given over to the rise of the chain stores and the decline of small town centres - it's descriptive rather than trying to reach a conclusion.
There's nothing new but, in a sense, that's probably intentional.
3 Stars.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, easygoing mystery set in a rural Texas county. Sheriff Dan Rhodes investigates 2 murders with is usual thoughtful and methodical style. Aspects of this book are emu raising, emu rustling and the impact of Wal-Mart and supermarkets on small town business.

Deserves 3.25 stars

[Marisa Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in Blacklin County Texas, a sheriff is dealing with a murder victim found in a port-a -potty and the thief of some emus.

Interesting characters but not the plot.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun installment of the series, this time involving emus, fighting roosters and port-a-pots.

[Camisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked these characters. The ending was not what I expected so that kept me interested. I think I will have to find more of this series.

[Melissa Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, easy read. This plot wasn’t as tight as some of the others, but I read them for the characters and setting. Love this series.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy these fast, easy reads. They have enough humor and a few twists, plus great characters, that I can't wait to read all of these in the series.

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bunch of drunk young men taking pot shots at an outhouse that's floating by a riverbank interrupts a baptismal ceremony - annoying, but not particularly peculiar for Blacklin County. But the dead body in the outhouse certainly is, and it's up to Sheriff Rhodes to figure out what the heck happened. And then there's the stolen emus and the guy who chained himself to the front door of the Wal-Mart, and the little fact that everybody's trying to keep something important from Dan - it's pretty confusing. This seventh in the long series is a solid mystery and another fun visit with the Sheriff and his friends and constituents.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#7 in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series.

Sheriff Dan Rhodes finds a corpse in a bullet-riddled portable toilet floating down river. The three young drunks discovered shooting at the toilet claim not to have known anyone was inside. The victim, a former hardware-store owner who had recently chained himself to the local Wal-Mart to protest the discount store's competitive edge, has an illegal cockfighting tool in his pocket. Then the dead man's widow is killed. The inhabitants of Blacklin County have lots of generally bad advice for their sheriff, who has two murders to solve, two emus to find and a secret cockfighting ring to break up.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheriff Dan Rhodes is hearing rumors about a cockfighting ring, when he finds a former local storekeeper, put out of business by a WalMart, dead in a Porta-Potty floating in the river. The dead man had few friends, but frequented a local tavern. At the same time, Rhodes must deal with a case of emu rustling--you can't brand an emu--and the antics of his helpers Hack and Lawton.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our main here is a likable small town sheriff. The small town, simple folk horse sense is present but not over played. In this book one crime if followed by others as things get more and more complicated, until a solution is found.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing to read this series and enjoying every book so far. Bill Crider has a laid back style to his writing and great characters with interesting plotlines.

I will definitely look for more in this series!

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow-walkin' slow-talkin' mystery set in a small Texas town that treats us to all of the stereotypes including cock fighting and drunken yahoos taking pot shots at outhouses. But this time the "cattle" are emus.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheriff Dan Rhodes are highly entertaining western mysteries. I've loved every one. This one is probably the mellowest in the series I've read, but the humor, characters, and clues do not disappoint. I can't wait to start the next.

[Kimberlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny. Easy, relaxing read.

[Olean Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good detective series each easily read in an afternoon - (in Nantucket - don't I wish). Very good.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, exciting. Definitely an enjoyable read Would make a good beach book. Another edition in the Dan Rhodes series worth a read.

[Stephanie Childs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and fun murder mystery!