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Smiley and McBlythe #2
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…Rifle Shells?
Blind private investigator Steve Smiley and his partner, Heather McBlythe, hear a rifle shot. Hordes of Christmas shoppers scatter. A famous big-game hunter drops to the sidewalk. They grab the beautiful teen who was arguing with the camo-clad man and flee to safety. The girl is Bella, the adopted daughter of the victim and a celebrity in her own right. She shows no emotion over the murder, but plenty of passion accompanies her only request: find her real parents.
Smiley and McBlythe agree to try. Strangely, their search intertwines with the murder investigation of Bella’s adopted father again and again—and also uncovers a shocking secret. Like it or not, Smiley and McBlythe must first identify the killer in order to discover the truth about Bella’s adoption.
Suspects line up like Santa’s reindeer. An ex-wife, disgruntled former employees and an animal rights activist make up the shortlist of people with motives. Can the determined investigators tie a ribbon on the case? Will Bella have the best Christmas ever—or will death and heartache be the only presents under the tree?
You’ll love this page-turning mystery—it has more twists and turns than stripes on a candy cane.
Nook
First published September 30, 2019
718 people are currently reading
522 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Hammack
49 books422 followersDrawing from his extensive background in criminal justice, Bruce Hammack writes contemporary, clean read detective and crime mysteries.
When he's not writing his next novel, he enjoys reading classic whodunits, watching film noir movies and traveling to see new places.
Having lived in eighteen cities around the world, he now lives in the Texas hill country with his wife of thirty-plus years.
He is the author of the Star of Justice series, the Smiley and McBlythe Mysteries and the Fen Maguire Mysteries. You can find out about his latest release at https://brucehammack.com/.
Follow him on social media at https://www.facebook.com/BruceHammack...
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/bruce...
When he's not writing his next novel, he enjoys reading classic whodunits, watching film noir movies and traveling to see new places.
Having lived in eighteen cities around the world, he now lives in the Texas hill country with his wife of thirty-plus years.
He is the author of the Star of Justice series, the Smiley and McBlythe Mysteries and the Fen Maguire Mysteries. You can find out about his latest release at https://brucehammack.com/.
Follow him on social media at https://www.facebook.com/BruceHammack...
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/bruce...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
September 9, 2024
Private Investigators and ex-cops, Heather McBlythe and Steve Smiley (who had been blind for the past three years), were heading into the mall to buy Christmas gifts when a gunshot sounded and a man in front of them collapsed to the sidewalk. The young teen with him was grabbed by Heather and pulled to safety. When Steve called 911, notifying them of an active shooter, the police force swarmed the area. The young teen, Bella, was the adopted daughter of the victim, and Heather took her home with them. Bella was mature for her years and when she knew what Heather and Steve did, she begged them to find her biological parents.
As Steve and Heather began the task, their investigation coincided with the police and the murder investigation - it seemed that somehow the two were linked. Bella had been manipulated her whole life and was a TV sensation, doing something she'd been trained to do. But as secrets and lies came to the surface, Steve was convinced there was much more at play. With only a few days until Christmas, would it be possible to tie the loose ends up, find a killer as well as Bella's real parents?
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells is the 1st in the Smiley & McBlythe series by Bruce Hammack and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast paced, well written, with plenty of red herrings and twists, I was never sure about the killer. The two MCs are great, and I'm looking forward to reading more of their stories. Highly recommended.
As Steve and Heather began the task, their investigation coincided with the police and the murder investigation - it seemed that somehow the two were linked. Bella had been manipulated her whole life and was a TV sensation, doing something she'd been trained to do. But as secrets and lies came to the surface, Steve was convinced there was much more at play. With only a few days until Christmas, would it be possible to tie the loose ends up, find a killer as well as Bella's real parents?
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells is the 1st in the Smiley & McBlythe series by Bruce Hammack and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast paced, well written, with plenty of red herrings and twists, I was never sure about the killer. The two MCs are great, and I'm looking forward to reading more of their stories. Highly recommended.
December 2, 2024
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells by Bruce Hammack
Synopsis /
Blind private investigator Steve Smiley and his partner, Heather McBlythe, hear a rifle shot. Hordes of Christmas shoppers scatter. A famous big-game hunter drops to the sidewalk. They grab the beautiful teen who was arguing with the camo-clad man and flee to safety. The girl is Bella, the adopted daughter of the victim and a celebrity in her own right. She shows no emotion over the murder, but plenty of passion accompanies her only request: find her real parents.
Smiley and McBlythe agree to try. Strangely, their search intertwines with the murder investigation of Bella’s adopted father again and again—and also uncovers a shocking secret. Like it or not, Smiley and McBlythe must first identify the killer in order to discover the truth about Bella’s adoption.
Suspects line up like Santa’s reindeer. An ex-wife, disgruntled former employees and an animal rights activist make up the shortlist of people with motives. Can the determined investigators tie a ribbon on the case? Will Bella have the best Christmas ever—or will death and heartache be the only presents under the tree?
My Thoughts /
How does a blind man solve a murder?
Science has shown that the brain can adapt to a change like blindness. One of the ways it adapts is by enhancing the other senses to compensate for the loss. For example, blind people may hear better and learn to use their boosted hearing to navigate. Deaf people can have a type of enhanced vision. This phenomenon is called neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to change with experience. When a sense is lost, the brain remodels itself.
It’s Christmastime - but for former Houston homicide detective, Steve Smiley, Christmas is yet another stark reminder of the loss of his beloved wife Maggie and, just a few short years ago, his sight, which he lost in a random violent attack. Steve now works with attorney, Heather McBlythe, both as private investigators specialising in solving murder cases.
When the story opens, the pair are heading into the local shopping mall to shop for Christmas gifts. As they were entering the Mall, Heather spies a couple arguing loudly – a man and a teenage girl. The sound of a gunshot pierces the air and the man falls to the ground dead. Heather grabs Steve and dives for cover with Steve calling 911 and notifying them there is an active shooter at the Mall. When the police arrive, they find the man deceased and the young teen in shock.
It turns out that the deceased man is Blake Brumley and the young teenage girl is his adopted daughter, Bella. Both Blake and Bella have a huge following for their hunting and fishing show Big Blake’s Big Game which is broadcast on tv. However, fame and fortune may just be an illusion as Bella hires Steve and Heather to investigate who shot her adoptive father. The suspect list keeps growing as the number of people with a grudge or problem with the dead man, keeps expanding. It turns out Blake Brumley was not a nice human – he was selfish, self-centred, and had a temper, sacking staff at his home and business contacts with little notice or reason and fell afoul of animal rights activists that disagreed with his game hunting practices.
One thing that stands out every time I read a Hammack novel, are the characters. Well written, well described, and full of life. The characters, even the not so good ones are fleshed out - they have details and depth that make them realistic and believable. Hammack also cleverly develops their history, personality, motivations, and relationships with other characters; and you can see this so clearly with both our protagonists; as well as keeping the reader’s attention with the types of cases they solve, the different threads and the clues and red herrings dropped along the way. For the reader, getting to solve the case through the eyes of a protagonist who is visually impaired is quite an eye opener.
It's been a full 12 months since I’ve visited with Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe and I’ve forgotten just how enjoyable they are to read.
Note to Self: Visit these friends more often.
Synopsis /
Blind private investigator Steve Smiley and his partner, Heather McBlythe, hear a rifle shot. Hordes of Christmas shoppers scatter. A famous big-game hunter drops to the sidewalk. They grab the beautiful teen who was arguing with the camo-clad man and flee to safety. The girl is Bella, the adopted daughter of the victim and a celebrity in her own right. She shows no emotion over the murder, but plenty of passion accompanies her only request: find her real parents.
Smiley and McBlythe agree to try. Strangely, their search intertwines with the murder investigation of Bella’s adopted father again and again—and also uncovers a shocking secret. Like it or not, Smiley and McBlythe must first identify the killer in order to discover the truth about Bella’s adoption.
Suspects line up like Santa’s reindeer. An ex-wife, disgruntled former employees and an animal rights activist make up the shortlist of people with motives. Can the determined investigators tie a ribbon on the case? Will Bella have the best Christmas ever—or will death and heartache be the only presents under the tree?
My Thoughts /
How does a blind man solve a murder?
Science has shown that the brain can adapt to a change like blindness. One of the ways it adapts is by enhancing the other senses to compensate for the loss. For example, blind people may hear better and learn to use their boosted hearing to navigate. Deaf people can have a type of enhanced vision. This phenomenon is called neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to change with experience. When a sense is lost, the brain remodels itself.
It’s Christmastime - but for former Houston homicide detective, Steve Smiley, Christmas is yet another stark reminder of the loss of his beloved wife Maggie and, just a few short years ago, his sight, which he lost in a random violent attack. Steve now works with attorney, Heather McBlythe, both as private investigators specialising in solving murder cases.
When the story opens, the pair are heading into the local shopping mall to shop for Christmas gifts. As they were entering the Mall, Heather spies a couple arguing loudly – a man and a teenage girl. The sound of a gunshot pierces the air and the man falls to the ground dead. Heather grabs Steve and dives for cover with Steve calling 911 and notifying them there is an active shooter at the Mall. When the police arrive, they find the man deceased and the young teen in shock.
It turns out that the deceased man is Blake Brumley and the young teenage girl is his adopted daughter, Bella. Both Blake and Bella have a huge following for their hunting and fishing show Big Blake’s Big Game which is broadcast on tv. However, fame and fortune may just be an illusion as Bella hires Steve and Heather to investigate who shot her adoptive father. The suspect list keeps growing as the number of people with a grudge or problem with the dead man, keeps expanding. It turns out Blake Brumley was not a nice human – he was selfish, self-centred, and had a temper, sacking staff at his home and business contacts with little notice or reason and fell afoul of animal rights activists that disagreed with his game hunting practices.
One thing that stands out every time I read a Hammack novel, are the characters. Well written, well described, and full of life. The characters, even the not so good ones are fleshed out - they have details and depth that make them realistic and believable. Hammack also cleverly develops their history, personality, motivations, and relationships with other characters; and you can see this so clearly with both our protagonists; as well as keeping the reader’s attention with the types of cases they solve, the different threads and the clues and red herrings dropped along the way. For the reader, getting to solve the case through the eyes of a protagonist who is visually impaired is quite an eye opener.
It's been a full 12 months since I’ve visited with Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe and I’ve forgotten just how enjoyable they are to read.
Note to Self: Visit these friends more often.
December 11, 2022
For Steve Smiley, Christmastime is not a festive season. To distract Steve from his malaise, fellow P.I. Heather McBlythe takes him holiday shopping at the local mall where they witness a reality TV star cut down in a hail of bullets - a tragic event to be sure, but made worse by the fact his adopted daughter witnessed it. Who hated the man enough to want him dead and why does his daughter seem more interested in finding her birth parents?
Smiley and Blythe work so well together! The story is well paced and the mystery is thoroughly enjoyable. While there aren't as many of the usual yuletide trappings, Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells still manages to give a good nod to this time of year.
Smiley and Blythe work so well together! The story is well paced and the mystery is thoroughly enjoyable. While there aren't as many of the usual yuletide trappings, Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells still manages to give a good nod to this time of year.
August 25, 2020
It was different but in a good way. I liked the book. It had good characters & good plot. It was a fast fun read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 10, 2020
Good clean mystery
It was a very entertaining story hard to put down. Thank you Bruce. Glad I downloaded this book very good read.
It was a very entertaining story hard to put down. Thank you Bruce. Glad I downloaded this book very good read.
July 17, 2020
Heighten senses from a blind investigator
It is fun to read stories with smart lead characters and this book has two good ones. I liked their chemistry.
It is fun to read stories with smart lead characters and this book has two good ones. I liked their chemistry.
August 1, 2020
Once again I have found a good book in this story. I found it hard to put it down until the end.
September 11, 2020
This is book four of The Smiley and McBlythe Mystery series and follows the pair of private investigators as they get their next case, shortly before the Christmas season. For Steve Smiley, Christmas is the reminder of the loss of his wife of some twenty five years and also the loss of his sight just a few years ago, so not a season that he likes to celebrate. They have a drop in visitor but it turns out to be an elderly lady with memory issues. To keep busy, Heather insists that Steve get some new shirts, since he always ends up with food stains when he eats, but he is a very reluctant shopper at the mall. Christmas music is already being played and there are Christmas decorations all over. Steve may not be able to see the decorations, but he can certainly hear the music!
As they are about to enter the all, they can see a teenage girl arguing with a man they presume is her father, when a shot rings out. The man falls down dead and Heather grabs the girl and Steve and gets them under cover behind a press van that had just pulled up. They call the police and Steve uses his enhanced hearing and ability to notice lots of details, to tell them where the shot was likely to have come from and what sort of calibre it might have been. The teenage girl they rescue is called Bella and is famous for a programme starring her going big game hunting, all around the world. The man is actually her adopted father and in control of her every movement, even down to what she wears and promotes. She is very concerned with the pair solving her adopted father’s death, but does want their help to find her real parents, which is a long shot.
Heather takes Bella under her care, a teen who has a false ID showing she is eighteen for her gun use online, but in reality she is just under the age of seventeen. Steve and Heather get her permission to search her family home, but the most important paperwork is what they cannot find. Bella’s passport, adoption paperwork, school records and even medical records! Why these are missing begin to raise questions about the legality of Bella’s adoption and seem to be tied into all the suspects for her adopted father’s killing. The fact that the press knew to be onsite at just the right time to catch the killing’s aftermath, is also a strange coincidence. The number of suspects keeps growing as the number of people with a grudge or problem with the dead man, keeps expanding, as he often sacked staff at his home and business contacts with little notice or reason. Even an animal rights activist that may have been Bella’s boyfriend.
His ex-wife’s elephant gun was used to kill him, but she has a rock solid alibi out of town. The people who Bella calls Aunt and Uncle, one was her nanny, teacher and basically her only real parent and the other taught her much she needed to use weapons and ferried her around on private planes to all her hunts. Even Bella is under suspicion, do to her online rants on social media about her adopted dad’s inappropriate choice of clothing and swimwear advertising. She has been purely raised to expand his big-game hunting business and nothing more by the looks of it. Bella is a very intelligent teen, far older than her years, due to her upbringing. Heather and Steve will have to hunt far and wide to find the real truth behind Bella’s parentage and hope that there will be a happy ending in time for Christmas.
The role of bureaucracy spins slowly and it is only the funds of McBlythe and Smiley that allow the truth behind the adoption of Bella, to finally be revealed. A simple statement about Bella’s first appearance in the family, is all it takes for Steve to connect the dots and work out where she is really from. I love how his mind works so brilliantly and his loss of vision has made his other senses more pronounced and having Heather as a partner, but also a lawyer and extremely wealthy woman in her own right, doesn’t hurt when they need to take unusual steps to follow clues. A great pair of characters who work well together to solve murders and mysteries, that no one else can! I look forward to reading many more books in this series and can’t wait for the next one. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
As they are about to enter the all, they can see a teenage girl arguing with a man they presume is her father, when a shot rings out. The man falls down dead and Heather grabs the girl and Steve and gets them under cover behind a press van that had just pulled up. They call the police and Steve uses his enhanced hearing and ability to notice lots of details, to tell them where the shot was likely to have come from and what sort of calibre it might have been. The teenage girl they rescue is called Bella and is famous for a programme starring her going big game hunting, all around the world. The man is actually her adopted father and in control of her every movement, even down to what she wears and promotes. She is very concerned with the pair solving her adopted father’s death, but does want their help to find her real parents, which is a long shot.
Heather takes Bella under her care, a teen who has a false ID showing she is eighteen for her gun use online, but in reality she is just under the age of seventeen. Steve and Heather get her permission to search her family home, but the most important paperwork is what they cannot find. Bella’s passport, adoption paperwork, school records and even medical records! Why these are missing begin to raise questions about the legality of Bella’s adoption and seem to be tied into all the suspects for her adopted father’s killing. The fact that the press knew to be onsite at just the right time to catch the killing’s aftermath, is also a strange coincidence. The number of suspects keeps growing as the number of people with a grudge or problem with the dead man, keeps expanding, as he often sacked staff at his home and business contacts with little notice or reason. Even an animal rights activist that may have been Bella’s boyfriend.
His ex-wife’s elephant gun was used to kill him, but she has a rock solid alibi out of town. The people who Bella calls Aunt and Uncle, one was her nanny, teacher and basically her only real parent and the other taught her much she needed to use weapons and ferried her around on private planes to all her hunts. Even Bella is under suspicion, do to her online rants on social media about her adopted dad’s inappropriate choice of clothing and swimwear advertising. She has been purely raised to expand his big-game hunting business and nothing more by the looks of it. Bella is a very intelligent teen, far older than her years, due to her upbringing. Heather and Steve will have to hunt far and wide to find the real truth behind Bella’s parentage and hope that there will be a happy ending in time for Christmas.
The role of bureaucracy spins slowly and it is only the funds of McBlythe and Smiley that allow the truth behind the adoption of Bella, to finally be revealed. A simple statement about Bella’s first appearance in the family, is all it takes for Steve to connect the dots and work out where she is really from. I love how his mind works so brilliantly and his loss of vision has made his other senses more pronounced and having Heather as a partner, but also a lawyer and extremely wealthy woman in her own right, doesn’t hurt when they need to take unusual steps to follow clues. A great pair of characters who work well together to solve murders and mysteries, that no one else can! I look forward to reading many more books in this series and can’t wait for the next one. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
December 27, 2024
This is my second Smiley and McBlythe book, and I must say I find these murder mysteries quite fun. Smiley is a former detective who lost his sight but has found a way to continue to do investigation with characteristic genius-level panache almost Holmesian in style (something he clearly loves to do) while getting the assistance he requires via McBlythe. McBlythe is a genius in her own right. She is a junior to Smiley by 20 years, an heiress, but also a lawyer and a graduate of the police academy that had her career sabotaged by her affluent father.
Here, Smiley and McBlythe witness the murder of a television personality who was arguing with his adopted daughter when he lost his life. The dead man was a big game hunter celebrity, and the girl was being groomed to follow his steps in a more cheesecake fashion. Steve (Smiley) and Heather (McBlythe) step in to protect the teen (Bella) from the killer and when they identify themselves as private detectives, Bella asks them to find her biological parents.
Of course, the more the private investigators search for Bella's biological parents, the more they get involved in the search to find the killer. Also, the story becomes more convoluted as clues are unearthed, involving child abduction, exploitation, a courtroom drama, animal rights activists, flights to the Bahamas, and a Christmas ending that caught me so much by surprise that some tears were randomly coaxed from my eyes.
This is my book #4 of 5 that I set as a goal to end the year on. (I think I may actually surpass that goal.)
Here, Smiley and McBlythe witness the murder of a television personality who was arguing with his adopted daughter when he lost his life. The dead man was a big game hunter celebrity, and the girl was being groomed to follow his steps in a more cheesecake fashion. Steve (Smiley) and Heather (McBlythe) step in to protect the teen (Bella) from the killer and when they identify themselves as private detectives, Bella asks them to find her biological parents.
Of course, the more the private investigators search for Bella's biological parents, the more they get involved in the search to find the killer. Also, the story becomes more convoluted as clues are unearthed, involving child abduction, exploitation, a courtroom drama, animal rights activists, flights to the Bahamas, and a Christmas ending that caught me so much by surprise that some tears were randomly coaxed from my eyes.
This is my book #4 of 5 that I set as a goal to end the year on. (I think I may actually surpass that goal.)
December 29, 2024
First time reading anything by this author. It wasn‘t the first book written about Houston homicide detective Steve Smiley but the back story was filled in an unobtrusive manner. The plot moved along at a good pace, the characters were interesting and I was motivated to keep reading and then look for other books by the author. Clean mystery.
December 14, 2025
I don’t even know why I decided to finish this book. It was genuinely bad. Like….really rough first draft. Maybe with some serious polishing and insanely good editing it could be good; but as it is…it felt like reading a novel written by a middle schooler
December 21, 2023
I'm really enjoying these books. I figured it out, but it was still a fun read. Can't wait to read more in the series!
December 19, 2023
While at a mall, a man is killed in front of Smiley and McBlythe, the dead man's daughter employs them to find her birth parents, but will they also discover the name of the killer.
An entertaining modern mystery
An entertaining modern mystery
January 3, 2024
This is the first of the series, although there are prequels worth reading (including Exercise Is Murder, which recounts their first case together). It deals with the murder of a big-game hunter in front of a shopping mall at Christmas time, and how Steve and Heather get pulled into the case to help the victim's adopted daughter, Bella.
January 7, 2023
Needs a Lot of Polish
The story has decent characters, but the writing has too many embarrassing errors to be topflight (incorrect capitalization, "hanger" instead of "hangar," "you're" instead of "your," etc. And a person in their early 70s is in the eighth decade of life, not seventh as stated herein). The plot isn't bad, but too much is resolved in an "oh, by the way" sort of manner in the last couple of chapters when it could have been set up more properly throughout and given the book less of a Deus ex machina feel. Solid, professional editing could have made this a lot better.
The story has decent characters, but the writing has too many embarrassing errors to be topflight (incorrect capitalization, "hanger" instead of "hangar," "you're" instead of "your," etc. And a person in their early 70s is in the eighth decade of life, not seventh as stated herein). The plot isn't bad, but too much is resolved in an "oh, by the way" sort of manner in the last couple of chapters when it could have been set up more properly throughout and given the book less of a Deus ex machina feel. Solid, professional editing could have made this a lot better.
July 31, 2020
Thrilling suspenseful beautiful story enjoyed every moment of reading want to read more like this from the series
Thrilling suspenseful beautiful story enjoyed every moment of reading want to read more like this from the series getting started tomorrow on next book
Thrilling suspenseful beautiful story enjoyed every moment of reading want to read more like this from the series getting started tomorrow on next book
October 22, 2021
Brilliant
This was definitely my kind of book. No swearing, sex or blasphemy, just full on great story and characters and plots. A brilliant mix of private investigator, police and lawyers. Starting of with a literal bang, it didn’t stop. Full of humanity, good humour . I read and loved this first book, I can only continue to enjoy this flowing, easy to read writing style full of very clever insights and details and I highly recommend this series and especially this book.
This was definitely my kind of book. No swearing, sex or blasphemy, just full on great story and characters and plots. A brilliant mix of private investigator, police and lawyers. Starting of with a literal bang, it didn’t stop. Full of humanity, good humour . I read and loved this first book, I can only continue to enjoy this flowing, easy to read writing style full of very clever insights and details and I highly recommend this series and especially this book.
July 15, 2021
Wow! I finally found a mystery hero in the vein of Sherlock and Hercule. I am enthralled. In fact, was so enthralled, I immediately went on Amazon and picked up 2 more of Mr Hammack's books in this series and intend to read every one .
Smiley uses Sherlock's penchant for observation, as observation is not only accomplished by seeing, but by hearing, feeling and attention to small things that are unseen by the naked eye. Then he takes a page from Mr. Poirot and puts the little gray cells to work. Together, they are a lesson in magnificence. Without seeing, he knew where the bullet came from, the trajectory, caliber and range. That is observation and brain cells working together. Something pretty much unseen in today's mysteries.
One thing did confuse me. When they went, for the last time, to look for Bella's papers, Smiley said he was 90% sure of where they were. When he walked in, he tapped his cane on the floor in a few directions and then tapped over to the snake display, which turned out to be where they were, in fact, hidden. No hint or clue as to why he came to the conclusion that they were hidden there. That annoys me. I hate solutions that appear out of thin air, magically, I suppose, which is unconscionable and defeats the theory of observation and brain. And pretty much leaves the reader in the dark, which I hate. I like to work along with the detectors.
But, all in all, sans my one problem, Mr. Hammack is a superior writer and has just been added to my favorites author's list.
Thank you, Mr. Hammack, for a most enjoyable read
Smiley uses Sherlock's penchant for observation, as observation is not only accomplished by seeing, but by hearing, feeling and attention to small things that are unseen by the naked eye. Then he takes a page from Mr. Poirot and puts the little gray cells to work. Together, they are a lesson in magnificence. Without seeing, he knew where the bullet came from, the trajectory, caliber and range. That is observation and brain cells working together. Something pretty much unseen in today's mysteries.
One thing did confuse me. When they went, for the last time, to look for Bella's papers, Smiley said he was 90% sure of where they were. When he walked in, he tapped his cane on the floor in a few directions and then tapped over to the snake display, which turned out to be where they were, in fact, hidden. No hint or clue as to why he came to the conclusion that they were hidden there. That annoys me. I hate solutions that appear out of thin air, magically, I suppose, which is unconscionable and defeats the theory of observation and brain. And pretty much leaves the reader in the dark, which I hate. I like to work along with the detectors.
But, all in all, sans my one problem, Mr. Hammack is a superior writer and has just been added to my favorites author's list.
Thank you, Mr. Hammack, for a most enjoyable read
January 21, 2023
If it’s possible to have a good time reading about murder, kidnapping and mysteries, this is it!
“Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells” is a well written clean mystery that quite literally starts with a bang and ends with the ubiquitous HEA…for a little while. Heather and Steve are partners in a detective agency. Both used to be cops and due to a variety of reasons they have banded together in this agency. She’s also a lawyer which comes in very handy and he’s blind but that’s more of an asset than a disability. This pair make great literary opportunity.
Author, Bruce Hammack, keeps the story moving at a quick pace with chapters that average 5-6 pages. He employs an enjoyable balance between light procedural and cozy that features touches of humor, romance without any sexual content, mild violence without graphic description and no foul language.
Strong characters, including the secondaries are another strong point for this author who also featured two pets in this holiday timed story. Lest anyone be excluded, there’s both a dog and a cat for your enjoyment and there’s an architectural accommodation just for them!
Moments of sweetness, multiple modestly veiled mysteries, highly enjoyable characters and a setting around Houston during the holidays - just right for a grey day in January📚
“Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells” is a well written clean mystery that quite literally starts with a bang and ends with the ubiquitous HEA…for a little while. Heather and Steve are partners in a detective agency. Both used to be cops and due to a variety of reasons they have banded together in this agency. She’s also a lawyer which comes in very handy and he’s blind but that’s more of an asset than a disability. This pair make great literary opportunity.
Author, Bruce Hammack, keeps the story moving at a quick pace with chapters that average 5-6 pages. He employs an enjoyable balance between light procedural and cozy that features touches of humor, romance without any sexual content, mild violence without graphic description and no foul language.
Strong characters, including the secondaries are another strong point for this author who also featured two pets in this holiday timed story. Lest anyone be excluded, there’s both a dog and a cat for your enjoyment and there’s an architectural accommodation just for them!
Moments of sweetness, multiple modestly veiled mysteries, highly enjoyable characters and a setting around Houston during the holidays - just right for a grey day in January📚
January 30, 2023
With Christmas fast approaching, Heather and Steve are headed to The Woodlands Mall. They hear a man and a young girl arguing, when a
shot rings out and the man drops dead. Heather gets the girl and Steve to safety behind a car while Steve calls Emergency Services. The
shot creates a panic among the shoppers and turmoil ensues. It turns out that the girl, Bella Brumley, is the adopted daughter of the man
who was shot, Blake Brumley. Bella does not appear to be upset by Blake's death and hopes Heather and Steve can locate her birth
parents.
That request may prove to be harder than expected, when they are unable to find either a birth certificate or adoption papers in the house.
Blake also had a habit of firing people for no apparent reason, which left him with no shortage of enemies. His business practices also
tended to irritate a lot of people, which only adds to the list of potential suspects.
Who killed Blake Brumley? Why was he killed? Where is the paperwork on Bella? Can Heather and Steve find her birth parents without
also solving the murder?
Bruce Hammack has a great mystery with great characters and realistic situations. The mystery has plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings
to keep the reader engaged clear to the end. This is another great addition to a Fantastic series!!
shot rings out and the man drops dead. Heather gets the girl and Steve to safety behind a car while Steve calls Emergency Services. The
shot creates a panic among the shoppers and turmoil ensues. It turns out that the girl, Bella Brumley, is the adopted daughter of the man
who was shot, Blake Brumley. Bella does not appear to be upset by Blake's death and hopes Heather and Steve can locate her birth
parents.
That request may prove to be harder than expected, when they are unable to find either a birth certificate or adoption papers in the house.
Blake also had a habit of firing people for no apparent reason, which left him with no shortage of enemies. His business practices also
tended to irritate a lot of people, which only adds to the list of potential suspects.
Who killed Blake Brumley? Why was he killed? Where is the paperwork on Bella? Can Heather and Steve find her birth parents without
also solving the murder?
Bruce Hammack has a great mystery with great characters and realistic situations. The mystery has plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings
to keep the reader engaged clear to the end. This is another great addition to a Fantastic series!!
November 15, 2023
The Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series:
Exercise Is Murder, prequel - An interesting and immersing introduction to Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe
and their beginnings. Recommend reading this first. 4*
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells, 1 - Interesting and immersing easy read with a steady pace, good story lines, good characters and good values made this a hard to put down read. Recommend reading the prequel, Exercise is Murder first. 5*
Murder In The Dunes, #4 - Difficult to put down with its steady pace, easy to read writing style and good characters and story lines. 5*
Murder Down The Line, #6 - This is an enjoyable, entertaining series. I like the main characters, the well thought out story lines, and the processes to solve the crimes. Two crimes and a surprise made for a hard to put down read but the pages flew by rapidly. Source: BookSirens. 5*
A Beach to Die For, #8 - While still an interesting story, it was missing something. I had a hard time, here and there, keeping my interest in the story. Good characters and story lines, but an average read. Source: BookSirens. 3*
Mistletoe, Malice And Murder, #9 - Interesting but too easy to figure out the murderer. Good story lines with humor and good characters. Source: BookSirens. 4*
The Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series end.
Exercise Is Murder, prequel - An interesting and immersing introduction to Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe
and their beginnings. Recommend reading this first. 4*
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells, 1 - Interesting and immersing easy read with a steady pace, good story lines, good characters and good values made this a hard to put down read. Recommend reading the prequel, Exercise is Murder first. 5*
Murder In The Dunes, #4 - Difficult to put down with its steady pace, easy to read writing style and good characters and story lines. 5*
Murder Down The Line, #6 - This is an enjoyable, entertaining series. I like the main characters, the well thought out story lines, and the processes to solve the crimes. Two crimes and a surprise made for a hard to put down read but the pages flew by rapidly. Source: BookSirens. 5*
A Beach to Die For, #8 - While still an interesting story, it was missing something. I had a hard time, here and there, keeping my interest in the story. Good characters and story lines, but an average read. Source: BookSirens. 3*
Mistletoe, Malice And Murder, #9 - Interesting but too easy to figure out the murderer. Good story lines with humor and good characters. Source: BookSirens. 4*
The Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series end.
August 5, 2024
Another cute mystery read by Hammack. Steve and Heather are back at it. Featuring one of my favorite holidays. CHRISTMAS. I love how good these stories go. Steve is so smart. By the time everything is revealed I never fully know what's going to happen.
Heather's got a lot going on. I'm proud that she was able to move on as quickly as she did. She deserves it. Smart as hell and got the drive to change the world. Steve, oh Steve. Heather really brightens his days up. What he wouldn't do without her. The pair are good for one another. She's the sunshine in his darkness. And he's honest to her. Helps her achieve the things she wants to. I love this duo so much.
SPOILER!
Gwen I started to detect about halfway through the book. She was too 'perfect'. Doing everything she could to get into Bella's life. Bella was just a kid. She just wanted to be cared about. Everything that poor girl had to deal with was to much. She shouldn't have been snatched from her family. She shouldn't have been used for money. I'm glad Steve and Heather could solve the mystery. Bella deserves happiness. And the family that Blake deprived her of.
Heather's got a lot going on. I'm proud that she was able to move on as quickly as she did. She deserves it. Smart as hell and got the drive to change the world. Steve, oh Steve. Heather really brightens his days up. What he wouldn't do without her. The pair are good for one another. She's the sunshine in his darkness. And he's honest to her. Helps her achieve the things she wants to. I love this duo so much.
SPOILER!
Gwen I started to detect about halfway through the book. She was too 'perfect'. Doing everything she could to get into Bella's life. Bella was just a kid. She just wanted to be cared about. Everything that poor girl had to deal with was to much. She shouldn't have been snatched from her family. She shouldn't have been used for money. I'm glad Steve and Heather could solve the mystery. Bella deserves happiness. And the family that Blake deprived her of.
November 10, 2022
Another win for Bruce Hammack with #4 in the Smiley and Blythe series! The fact that there is no swearing, or descriptive sexual activity is something I appreciate.
The beginning starts with Smiley (a blind detective) and his co-worker Blythe (who is an attorney) are at the mall after Thanksgiving when the sound of a gun is heard, and a man drops dead in front of his adopted teenage daughter, Bella! Why would someone want to murder a big game hunter? And what part does Bella play in the murder? And why was there a reporter on scene, in just the right place at the right time to see the events as they unfolded!
This book is a fun and enjoyable read, with a good pace that kept my attention throughout. I do recommend that if given the chance, reading the books in the series in order will fill in so much background and give the reader an idea of exactly who Smiley and Blythe are, and how they came to be working together
The beginning starts with Smiley (a blind detective) and his co-worker Blythe (who is an attorney) are at the mall after Thanksgiving when the sound of a gun is heard, and a man drops dead in front of his adopted teenage daughter, Bella! Why would someone want to murder a big game hunter? And what part does Bella play in the murder? And why was there a reporter on scene, in just the right place at the right time to see the events as they unfolded!
This book is a fun and enjoyable read, with a good pace that kept my attention throughout. I do recommend that if given the chance, reading the books in the series in order will fill in so much background and give the reader an idea of exactly who Smiley and Blythe are, and how they came to be working together
December 31, 2023
I gave this 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4. Blake Brumley is a tv star on a hunting/fishing show and has his adopted daughter Bella as part of the action ever since she was small. When he's shot, investigators Heather and Steve are nearby and come to Bella's rescue offering to help her find out who shot Blake. She agrees, but also wants them to find her biological parents.
The story is interesting and you get a real insight into the victim and the life he lived to get where he was; rich and famous.
My main problem with the book was the portrayal of Steve as a blind man. He wasn't newly blind and just struggling to get around, yet people were leading him to chairs, cutting up his food etc. I have the experience to know that a person with no sight would quickly learn to do those things by themselves and having someone do this would not normally be appreciated or needed.
Overall the book was worth a read though and I will look for others from the author.
The story is interesting and you get a real insight into the victim and the life he lived to get where he was; rich and famous.
My main problem with the book was the portrayal of Steve as a blind man. He wasn't newly blind and just struggling to get around, yet people were leading him to chairs, cutting up his food etc. I have the experience to know that a person with no sight would quickly learn to do those things by themselves and having someone do this would not normally be appreciated or needed.
Overall the book was worth a read though and I will look for others from the author.
January 13, 2024
Current Day
North Houston, TX
While entering a mall the Saturday after Thanksgiving, blind private investigator, Steve Smiley, and his partner, Heather McBlythe, heard an argument between a young woman and a man. Suddenly a large caliber rifle shot is heard and the man falls.
Turns out the man is a famous big-game hunter and TV star, Blake Brumley, and the beautiful teen who was arguing with him was Bella, his adopted daughter.
Bella hired Steve and Heather to help solve the murder, but also to find her real parents.
This was an extremely involved story. New theories and complications around each corner. Whew.
All very good.
Looking forward to the rest of this fascinating series.
North Houston, TX
While entering a mall the Saturday after Thanksgiving, blind private investigator, Steve Smiley, and his partner, Heather McBlythe, heard an argument between a young woman and a man. Suddenly a large caliber rifle shot is heard and the man falls.
Turns out the man is a famous big-game hunter and TV star, Blake Brumley, and the beautiful teen who was arguing with him was Bella, his adopted daughter.
Bella hired Steve and Heather to help solve the murder, but also to find her real parents.
This was an extremely involved story. New theories and complications around each corner. Whew.
All very good.
Looking forward to the rest of this fascinating series.
January 7, 2025
This is the first in the series. The main characters are Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe. Steve is a blind, ex cop who runs a business with Heather, an ex cop and now lawyer. They are headed to a mall before Christmas and become part of the mess of people who hear and witness a murder. The guy who was murdered had a young lady, his supposed daughter with him. They take on the the young girl who might be adopted, and they are also looking for her parents but no one know where she even came from. It is one heck of a mess but they slowly figure everything out and even think they may have found her parents. This is a very good book.
August 4, 2023
Somehow this book got "lost" on my Kindle while I kept up with later installments in the Smiley and McBlythe detective series. When I finally read it recently, several gaps in the overall series arc were filled in. It was fun to discover Bella's backstory and how she became a series regular. Secrets abound (naturally!) as Steve and Heather follow the clues to find out who murdered Bella's adoptive father. To say too much more about the story would include spoilers, but suffice it to say, it's another lively, page-turning whodunit!
December 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, the first in the Smiley and McBlythe series. The story line unfolded easily and the main characters are engaging and very likeable. Smiley is a blind private detective (who before he lost his sight was a highly respected law enforcement officer). He picks up on things his partner Heather McBlythe doesn't because his senses of hearing and smell are more profound now that he is blind.
This is a good, clean, engaging book of murder with a cast of interesting characters.
This is a good, clean, engaging book of murder with a cast of interesting characters.
December 9, 2023
Don't you love discovering a new author and finding you love their books? That's how I feel about Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells! It's the first book I've read by Bruce Hammack. In fact (sorry, Bruce), I'd never even heard of him until downloading his book from a multi-author event. I basically got the book because the snippet sounded good. and it said that it is a clean read. I read it over the course of 2 days, but I could have easily read it in a day because it's so hard to put down! The mystery is very well-plotted, and the characters are amazing. I think clean mystery & cozy mystery lovers will really enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.
August 18, 2024
A mystery and then some.
It has been well over a year since I read the first Smiley and McBlythe novel. I found myself questioning just where the series could go. But, like the first book, a blurb on Facebook caught my eye. This story started off quickly and never looked back. The young lady at the heart of the story was, at times, unbelievable and sometimes "why did she say/do that?". However, the story was well done and kept me engrossed. The ending threw enough twists in, that is was satisfyingly jumbled. I will now grab the next book. A 4.4 out of 5 rating.
It has been well over a year since I read the first Smiley and McBlythe novel. I found myself questioning just where the series could go. But, like the first book, a blurb on Facebook caught my eye. This story started off quickly and never looked back. The young lady at the heart of the story was, at times, unbelievable and sometimes "why did she say/do that?". However, the story was well done and kept me engrossed. The ending threw enough twists in, that is was satisfyingly jumbled. I will now grab the next book. A 4.4 out of 5 rating.
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