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Bill Maytubby & Hannah Bond Mystery #3
Butcher Pen Road
On Oklahoma's Big Rock Prairie, a deaf boy finds a body in Pennington Creek. Johnston County Deputy Hannah Bond and Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Sergeant Bill Maytubby find a crime scene where nothing seems to fit -- from the dead angler's oversize waders to the kind of fish in his creel. They scour the creekside brush, then hit the road for Texas in a widening search for the killer.
On the Big Rock, a towering bearded man is building a limestone replica of Roman Jerusalem for a Christian passion play. His cronies, who are in league with an interstate fraud ring, want the boy to disappear now.
Flying an ancient rented Cessna, Maytubby takes fire from a suspect he is tailing, while Bond combs river trails for traces of the killer.
While Maytubby and Bond try to protect the deaf boy and his mother from the crime ring, an improbable ally materializes from the prairie oak thickets, wielding a monstrous shotgun.
On the Big Rock, a towering bearded man is building a limestone replica of Roman Jerusalem for a Christian passion play. His cronies, who are in league with an interstate fraud ring, want the boy to disappear now.
Flying an ancient rented Cessna, Maytubby takes fire from a suspect he is tailing, while Bond combs river trails for traces of the killer.
While Maytubby and Bond try to protect the deaf boy and his mother from the crime ring, an improbable ally materializes from the prairie oak thickets, wielding a monstrous shotgun.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 13, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 31, 2022
This is the third book in the Oklahoma police procedural series featuring Johnston County Deputy Hannah Bond and Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Sergeant Bill Maytubby. It can be read as a standalone. I like both Bond and Maytubby and have enjoyed their pairing in all three books. In this book, a young deaf boy, living with his single mother, discovers a dead body. The crime scene has been inexpertly staged. The victim had both a drunken, vengeful wife and a married mistress.
Although the case isn’t really in their territory, Bond and Maytubby investigate. I didn’t really understand why this happened, but that was only one of the many things I didn’t understand about this book. By the end of the book, I still didn’t really know why the victim had to die. That is probably my fault, since I found myself losing the thread of the plot when I was bombarded by the introduction of way too many characters and plot tangents. That was also my problem with the last book, and I hadn’t intended to continue with the series. I should have stuck with that. The books are just too cluttered for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Although the case isn’t really in their territory, Bond and Maytubby investigate. I didn’t really understand why this happened, but that was only one of the many things I didn’t understand about this book. By the end of the book, I still didn’t really know why the victim had to die. That is probably my fault, since I found myself losing the thread of the plot when I was bombarded by the introduction of way too many characters and plot tangents. That was also my problem with the last book, and I hadn’t intended to continue with the series. I should have stuck with that. The books are just too cluttered for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
July 14, 2021
There are a few crime writers who can expertly evoke a sense of place and of genuine people; who can transfer those authentic voices to the printed page. Kris Lackey is one of those authors. It’s no mean feat and it’s punishingly tough to accomplish in minimal prose. With the Bond and Maytubby series, Lackey has created characters every bit as witty and engaging as Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers.
But Lackey’s investigators aren’t Hollywood-style superheroes who get shot in every engagement and can call in an air-strike if the going gets tough. You can believe in Hannah Bond and Bill Maytubby: they live in the same world that we do. They’re methodical, competent and experienced officers… who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the people of their community.
The two earlier books in this series sensitively illuminated some delicate societal issues. This time there’s not so much emphasis on the cultural intricacies of the Chickasaw nation but instead the spotlight falls on a profoundly deaf young man. He’s the key witness who has seen more than he understands and can easily express – but he’s no token victim and nor is the author playing the sympathy card. The lad is a fully-fledged personality with all the grubby grey ambiguities of adolescence – and the determined courage to stand up to the murderers who stalk him.
As Bond and Maytubby follow their evidence they encounter bitter rivalry between bad neighbours, a strange set-up at a healthcare centre, and the bizarre sight of a Roman amphitheatre being hewn from limestone by an aggressive born-again. The initial killing, it seems, is more than an isolated incident. These men have secrets and they’re prepared to kill again to protect them…
At times I couldn’t quite see where the disparate threads of this story were heading. The plot gallops along at a cracking pace over a few short days, and you have to run alongside Bill, through the brush and dry river-beds, just to keep up. At times, I was too swept up by the chase to understand what was actually happening. The final two chapters explain it all, but I would’ve appreciated a little bit more of a recap in the middle. By the time the final page rolled around I was fully caught up with exactly what had happened, and thoroughly delighted with Maytubby’s deft manipulation of the multi-agency debrief.
This is a crime series which wears its humanity firmly on its sleeve. There may be moments of outright aggression and blunt force, but the negative effects are kept in check by the likeable characters and their affable good humour. There’s none of the bleak nihilism which so frequently permeates crime fiction set in backwoods America. The result is ultimately uplifting and affirming, and I can’t wait for the next one.
9/10
There's more detail about this book - and the others in this series - over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
But Lackey’s investigators aren’t Hollywood-style superheroes who get shot in every engagement and can call in an air-strike if the going gets tough. You can believe in Hannah Bond and Bill Maytubby: they live in the same world that we do. They’re methodical, competent and experienced officers… who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the people of their community.
The two earlier books in this series sensitively illuminated some delicate societal issues. This time there’s not so much emphasis on the cultural intricacies of the Chickasaw nation but instead the spotlight falls on a profoundly deaf young man. He’s the key witness who has seen more than he understands and can easily express – but he’s no token victim and nor is the author playing the sympathy card. The lad is a fully-fledged personality with all the grubby grey ambiguities of adolescence – and the determined courage to stand up to the murderers who stalk him.
As Bond and Maytubby follow their evidence they encounter bitter rivalry between bad neighbours, a strange set-up at a healthcare centre, and the bizarre sight of a Roman amphitheatre being hewn from limestone by an aggressive born-again. The initial killing, it seems, is more than an isolated incident. These men have secrets and they’re prepared to kill again to protect them…
At times I couldn’t quite see where the disparate threads of this story were heading. The plot gallops along at a cracking pace over a few short days, and you have to run alongside Bill, through the brush and dry river-beds, just to keep up. At times, I was too swept up by the chase to understand what was actually happening. The final two chapters explain it all, but I would’ve appreciated a little bit more of a recap in the middle. By the time the final page rolled around I was fully caught up with exactly what had happened, and thoroughly delighted with Maytubby’s deft manipulation of the multi-agency debrief.
This is a crime series which wears its humanity firmly on its sleeve. There may be moments of outright aggression and blunt force, but the negative effects are kept in check by the likeable characters and their affable good humour. There’s none of the bleak nihilism which so frequently permeates crime fiction set in backwoods America. The result is ultimately uplifting and affirming, and I can’t wait for the next one.
9/10
There's more detail about this book - and the others in this series - over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
September 14, 2021
Butcher Pen Road is Kris Lackey’s the third effort chronicling the detective exploits of law enforcement collaborators Lighthorse Police Seargent Bill Maytubby and Johnston County Deputy Hannah Bond. Author Lackey definitely has a winning formula with these two characters and the friendly yet competitive give and take between the two throughout the story makes this an enjoyable read.
As the story develops, the reader is treated to a richly detailed description of life in rural Oklahoma, as well as an understanding of the coexistence of the Native American Chickasaw Nation with the rest of the population of Johnston County. That coexistence extends to Law enforcement due to shared jurisdiction of Johnston County Law enforcement with Maytubby’s Tribal Lighthorse Police Force.
Lackey’s character development of Maytubby and Bond is natural, funny engaging, and deftly crafted in the dialog between the two. Our heroes seem to “finish each other’s sentences” when down to serious business yet delight in quick witted one upsmanship while breaking the tension with their humor.
Unfortunately, character development breaks down in the rest of the cast. Other than the deaf boy who finds the body, not one is developed enough to be memorable. As a result, I found myself rereading pages to remember one from another. Plot tension and suspense is also lacking. There is no hook of fear or surprise to entice reading through the story’s zenith. Despite these shortcomings, I finished the book with no remorse. Maytubby, Bond, and the and Lackey’s attention to detail in describing rural Oklahoma provided more than enough enjoyment to keep my interest, its just a shame that a disappointing plot made Lackey’s fine efforts fall short.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
As the story develops, the reader is treated to a richly detailed description of life in rural Oklahoma, as well as an understanding of the coexistence of the Native American Chickasaw Nation with the rest of the population of Johnston County. That coexistence extends to Law enforcement due to shared jurisdiction of Johnston County Law enforcement with Maytubby’s Tribal Lighthorse Police Force.
Lackey’s character development of Maytubby and Bond is natural, funny engaging, and deftly crafted in the dialog between the two. Our heroes seem to “finish each other’s sentences” when down to serious business yet delight in quick witted one upsmanship while breaking the tension with their humor.
Unfortunately, character development breaks down in the rest of the cast. Other than the deaf boy who finds the body, not one is developed enough to be memorable. As a result, I found myself rereading pages to remember one from another. Plot tension and suspense is also lacking. There is no hook of fear or surprise to entice reading through the story’s zenith. Despite these shortcomings, I finished the book with no remorse. Maytubby, Bond, and the and Lackey’s attention to detail in describing rural Oklahoma provided more than enough enjoyment to keep my interest, its just a shame that a disappointing plot made Lackey’s fine efforts fall short.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
December 24, 2021
A Good Read
A well written story with characters you feel are your friends. Kris has done his research, makes me want to visit Oklahoma, and spend time there.
A well written story with characters you feel are your friends. Kris has done his research, makes me want to visit Oklahoma, and spend time there.
July 18, 2021
When a body is found dressed in expensive fishing gear two sizes too big, fly-fishing gear and trout to hand, in a creek too small for that kind of fishing, Lighthorse policeman Bill Maytubby and county deputy Hannah Bond know something’s hinky. It’s not their jurisdiction, though, because although the dead man was found on Chickasaw land, he’s not from the tribe nor does it appear he was killed there.
To be honest, even by the end of the book, I still didn’t understand what was going on, or why even the victim had been killed. It’s incredibly opaque and confusing, with multiple side plots which only appear to relate tangentially to the actual case. Bill and Hannah are both interesting, but we don’t get much backstory for either of them - I understand this is the third book in a series, but you really do need to give your characters something of an introduction, so new readers to the series aren’t completely lost, as I was.
I really struggled to finish this. I didn’t really care about the victim, and even though the case was eventually solved as to who did the crime, the why was never satisfactorily explained, for me. And this was disappointing, because I wanted to like it; it deviates from the standard mystery thrillers by having two protagonists of colour, one Native in Bill and a Black woman in Hannah. It just fails in several of the primary requirements for a mystery thriller; keeping me engaged and invested throughout and answering most of not all of the questions raised by the end. I can’t give it more than two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
To be honest, even by the end of the book, I still didn’t understand what was going on, or why even the victim had been killed. It’s incredibly opaque and confusing, with multiple side plots which only appear to relate tangentially to the actual case. Bill and Hannah are both interesting, but we don’t get much backstory for either of them - I understand this is the third book in a series, but you really do need to give your characters something of an introduction, so new readers to the series aren’t completely lost, as I was.
I really struggled to finish this. I didn’t really care about the victim, and even though the case was eventually solved as to who did the crime, the why was never satisfactorily explained, for me. And this was disappointing, because I wanted to like it; it deviates from the standard mystery thrillers by having two protagonists of colour, one Native in Bill and a Black woman in Hannah. It just fails in several of the primary requirements for a mystery thriller; keeping me engaged and invested throughout and answering most of not all of the questions raised by the end. I can’t give it more than two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
September 13, 2025
Very good very exciting. I love the characters.
June 23, 2021
Honestly, I wanted to like this one; it's got the major ingredients I love, like being a series with a couple of intriguing-sounding characters, here in the form of Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Sergeant Bill Maytubby and his friend, Johnston County Deputy Hanna Bond. This book is the third in the series and my first) - and therein, perhaps, lies my problem. By the end of the first handful of chapters, I was totally lost - in part, I suspect, because I had no background from which to draw.
Character after character came into play, many of whom go by different names and nicknames depending on the chapter and who's mentioning them - some I suspect made appearances in previous books and some probably are new to this one. Interspersed often in the conversations were words and phrases I've never heard of before, with no explanation as to what they meant nor context to provide a way to figure it out. Add to that jumbled sentences here and there - Kindle formatting errors, I suppose - and by the halfway point I really wanted to call it quits. But I persevered, mostly because the book came as a pre-release review copy courtesy of the publisher (via NetGalley) - and with these, I've always pledged to finish what I start.
What I gleaned is this: Maytubby and Bond are called to a local creek to examine the dead body of a man who was found by a young deaf boy who lives with his mother. At first, it looks to be some kind of fishing accident, but clues like finding fish in the dead guy's creel that don't live in the creek suggest it's more likely murder. Later, it appears someone wants to permanently silence the boy, and it's up to Maytubby - who has ties to the local Native American tribes (and may be one himself - never did find that out, nor how he ended up in this relatively desolate place) and Bond to keep him and his mother safe. When he gets a spare minute, Maytubby makes nice with his fiancee, Jill, who I think may be some kind of health food expert (or alternatively, a total nutcase on the subject). He also buys tons of food for friends and rents airplanes with his own money; I have no idea where or how he got it, but I find it hard to believe he has that much to spare on a backwoods Oklahoma sheriff's salary.
I will concede that the final chapter cleared up some of my confusion, mostly done in a conversational summary of everything that happened from beginning to end. And ttttthat's all I've got. The crimes pretty much get solved in the end (there's more than one here, but I never understood the others nor was able to connect the dots among them, if any), mostly by Maytubby's sleuthing around, sometimes barefoot (okay, so what's up with that)? My conclusion and recommendation? Reading the first two books is a requirement before tackling this one. Sorry I can't be more positive, but it is what it is.
Character after character came into play, many of whom go by different names and nicknames depending on the chapter and who's mentioning them - some I suspect made appearances in previous books and some probably are new to this one. Interspersed often in the conversations were words and phrases I've never heard of before, with no explanation as to what they meant nor context to provide a way to figure it out. Add to that jumbled sentences here and there - Kindle formatting errors, I suppose - and by the halfway point I really wanted to call it quits. But I persevered, mostly because the book came as a pre-release review copy courtesy of the publisher (via NetGalley) - and with these, I've always pledged to finish what I start.
What I gleaned is this: Maytubby and Bond are called to a local creek to examine the dead body of a man who was found by a young deaf boy who lives with his mother. At first, it looks to be some kind of fishing accident, but clues like finding fish in the dead guy's creel that don't live in the creek suggest it's more likely murder. Later, it appears someone wants to permanently silence the boy, and it's up to Maytubby - who has ties to the local Native American tribes (and may be one himself - never did find that out, nor how he ended up in this relatively desolate place) and Bond to keep him and his mother safe. When he gets a spare minute, Maytubby makes nice with his fiancee, Jill, who I think may be some kind of health food expert (or alternatively, a total nutcase on the subject). He also buys tons of food for friends and rents airplanes with his own money; I have no idea where or how he got it, but I find it hard to believe he has that much to spare on a backwoods Oklahoma sheriff's salary.
I will concede that the final chapter cleared up some of my confusion, mostly done in a conversational summary of everything that happened from beginning to end. And ttttthat's all I've got. The crimes pretty much get solved in the end (there's more than one here, but I never understood the others nor was able to connect the dots among them, if any), mostly by Maytubby's sleuthing around, sometimes barefoot (okay, so what's up with that)? My conclusion and recommendation? Reading the first two books is a requirement before tackling this one. Sorry I can't be more positive, but it is what it is.
November 18, 2021
I love these books, but I can't tell you what was going on in this one--too many bad guys, too many dirt roads (although, hallelujah, there is a map this time!). When a deaf boy finds a dead fisherman in a stream, tribal policeman Bill Maytubby and local deputy Hannah Bond find too many discrepancies for them to go along with the accident theory. Bill and Hannah work together to protect the boy and his mother from somebody who wants to tie up some loose ends, and Bill even rents a plane to track some suspicious characters all the way into Texas. When Bill finds himself in major trouble, he's helped by an unexpected ally, and Hannah finds a new friend.
October 14, 2021
You want a book that will keep you awake reading well past midnight? A whodunnit that describes the scenes and the action so well it's almost like you were there? Then find "Butcher Pen Road," by Kris Lackey, and settle down for some vicarious adventure with a brainy Chickasaw cop and his redneck ally.
July 14, 2021
I like it !
The third in series,still good, amusing, clever. These books are a pleasure to read. there’s a certain amount of social reality to these stories that underlies the fairly benign police interaction on the reservation fringes.
The third in series,still good, amusing, clever. These books are a pleasure to read. there’s a certain amount of social reality to these stories that underlies the fairly benign police interaction on the reservation fringes.
July 18, 2021
lackey butcher Pen Road
This is the third book in the Maytubby Bond series. I was hooked with the first one. The characters are well developed and the plot keeps you involved to the end. I recommend these books to anyone who likes a gritty mystery.
This is the third book in the Maytubby Bond series. I was hooked with the first one. The characters are well developed and the plot keeps you involved to the end. I recommend these books to anyone who likes a gritty mystery.
February 14, 2022
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Butcher Pen Road is the third book in the Maytubby & Bond western murder mystery procedural series by Kris Lackey. Released 13th July 2021 by Blackstone, it's 200 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (paperback due out in July 2022).
I came into the series with this book, the third, and as such, struggled to keep the characters and their interrelationships straight in my mind in the beginning. There's not much backstory given in this book and all the settings and personal characteristics have to be gleaned from context. The writing is good, but delivered in staccato bursts and sentence fragments which might take some getting used to on the reader's part. The setting (rural Oklahoma, including tribal land) is palpable and the author does a very good job with the background descriptions of setting and place.
This is a multi-agency investigation, and a fair bit of the bandwidth is taken up by inter-departmental jockeying and bickering. It's nice to see the interplay and cooperation and trust between the main characters tribal Sergeant Bill Maytubby and local county Deputy Hannah Bond. The character motivations and underlying plot elements are not relayed in a straightforward manner and are often a bit lost in the chaotic narrative. I had some difficulty winnowing out the salient points and even after the denouement and resolution I was unsure why the initial murder -"needed"- to happen at all.
There is a tried and true trope in modern fiction of the local police being treated as bumpkins and the feds sweeping in and taking over to the detriment of the crime investigation and justice, but that wasn't my biggest problem with the book. Although it's very well written, the non-linear plotting and scene-hopping were confusing to me and negatively impacted my enjoyment. This was, however, a good read for me and I enjoyed it, and I intend to carry on with the series.
I recommend it to fans of western (USA) police procedurals with indigenous characters, just don't expect it to be Hillerman or even Craig Johnson. Fans of both of those authors will find lots to enjoy here though.
Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Butcher Pen Road is the third book in the Maytubby & Bond western murder mystery procedural series by Kris Lackey. Released 13th July 2021 by Blackstone, it's 200 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (paperback due out in July 2022).
I came into the series with this book, the third, and as such, struggled to keep the characters and their interrelationships straight in my mind in the beginning. There's not much backstory given in this book and all the settings and personal characteristics have to be gleaned from context. The writing is good, but delivered in staccato bursts and sentence fragments which might take some getting used to on the reader's part. The setting (rural Oklahoma, including tribal land) is palpable and the author does a very good job with the background descriptions of setting and place.
This is a multi-agency investigation, and a fair bit of the bandwidth is taken up by inter-departmental jockeying and bickering. It's nice to see the interplay and cooperation and trust between the main characters tribal Sergeant Bill Maytubby and local county Deputy Hannah Bond. The character motivations and underlying plot elements are not relayed in a straightforward manner and are often a bit lost in the chaotic narrative. I had some difficulty winnowing out the salient points and even after the denouement and resolution I was unsure why the initial murder -"needed"- to happen at all.
There is a tried and true trope in modern fiction of the local police being treated as bumpkins and the feds sweeping in and taking over to the detriment of the crime investigation and justice, but that wasn't my biggest problem with the book. Although it's very well written, the non-linear plotting and scene-hopping were confusing to me and negatively impacted my enjoyment. This was, however, a good read for me and I enjoyed it, and I intend to carry on with the series.
I recommend it to fans of western (USA) police procedurals with indigenous characters, just don't expect it to be Hillerman or even Craig Johnson. Fans of both of those authors will find lots to enjoy here though.
Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
July 20, 2021
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I enjoyed reading a book with a completely different setting than I’m used to. Bill Maytubby and Hannah Bond were an interesting team. It took me a while at the beginning to sort out all the characters. I didn’t realize this was the third book in the series until much later. I think that is why it took me a bit to get them straight.
There were a lot of unusual or quirky characters from the deaf boy who witnessed a crime, to LeeRoy, a shotgun wielding man who may just turn out to be helpful. I enjoyed the mystery. There was more swearing in this book than I prefer. That was the main drawback for me.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
There were a lot of unusual or quirky characters from the deaf boy who witnessed a crime, to LeeRoy, a shotgun wielding man who may just turn out to be helpful. I enjoyed the mystery. There was more swearing in this book than I prefer. That was the main drawback for me.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 6, 2021
Hmm. I think those who have not read at least one of the two earlier books will find this a somewhat frustrating read, which is hard to write because it has so much potential. Maytubby and Bond are law enforcement officers faced with a puzzle when they investigate the death of a man who is found with fish in his creel that don't swim in the creek. This runs around the dark side of Oklahoma and into Texas but it's a short novel and the situations aren't really given the chance to evolve. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.
February 27, 2022
This is my first time reading this author and I almost closed the book shortly after beginning. I found it confusing and had no idea what was being said and what was going on. But I persevered and found a good mystery with excellent protagonists. The plot was interesting but the lack of clues kept me wondering what was going on. The police procedure kept my interest.
September 17, 2024
This was fun. Bill, Hannah and Jill. And Mr. Sickles, the hi-hi-hi guy! I really hope we see more of him in the next part because he's a hoot. I really loved the part where Bill and Hannah recapped all that happened to the agent guy who was bored at first but then looked like a kid having a fairy tale read to him. Ha!
April 2, 2022
Audible Audiobooks Library 📚
July 31, 2022
I still liked the main characters, but the story was flat and predictive.
July 31, 2023
Good Read!
February 3, 2024
I really enjoy this series and am looking forward to the next one.
July 27, 2024
Good mystery set in OK. Interlocking investigations by cops from different agencies are sorted out and handled. Great characters.
January 17, 2025
Good plots. Good characters. I know this isn't great literature, but it is fun to read.
February 26, 2026
always a reliable story, clever and fun.
great palate cleanser after i was tricked into thinking a popular author (F.M. ) is a good writer.
great palate cleanser after i was tricked into thinking a popular author (F.M. ) is a good writer.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews