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Sheriff Bo Tully #3
The Double-Jack Murders
The third novel in Patrick F. McManus's bestselling mystery series finds Sheriff Bo Tully with his hands full of elusive killers, eccentric backwoods characters, and irresistible women in this latest romp through the wilds of Blight County, Idaho.
Sheriff Bo Tully is the kind of western lawman who's as good with the ladies as he is with his guns, and he never lets a death threat get in the way of a good barbecue. He's a man with a sense of humor, which comes in handy when trying to establish order in Blight County.
In this latest tale, Tully pursues a seventy-five-year-old missing persons case in which a pair of gold miners (a two-man drilling team known as a double-jack) mysteriously disappeared just as they hit the mother lode in a remote part of Blight County. Meanwhile, a second, more threatening case looms large. After serving only two months of a life sentence, a mentally unstable murderer named Kincaid—a nasty piece of work if there ever was one—manages to escape prison, setting his sights on killing the man who put him behind bars: one Sheriff Bo Tully. In an effort to lead his would-be killer into the open, and also to do a little gold prospecting and fishing while he's at it, Tully heads north with his ex-sheriff father, Pap, and his friend and expert tracker, Dave.
As the two cases play themselves out, Sheriff Tully finds himself hunting down one murderer who's probably long dead, and being hunted by another who's very much alive. A fast-moving tale of murder, mayhem, and mining, The Double-Jack Murders is Patrick F. McManus's darkest, most entertaining mystery yet.
Sheriff Bo Tully is the kind of western lawman who's as good with the ladies as he is with his guns, and he never lets a death threat get in the way of a good barbecue. He's a man with a sense of humor, which comes in handy when trying to establish order in Blight County.
In this latest tale, Tully pursues a seventy-five-year-old missing persons case in which a pair of gold miners (a two-man drilling team known as a double-jack) mysteriously disappeared just as they hit the mother lode in a remote part of Blight County. Meanwhile, a second, more threatening case looms large. After serving only two months of a life sentence, a mentally unstable murderer named Kincaid—a nasty piece of work if there ever was one—manages to escape prison, setting his sights on killing the man who put him behind bars: one Sheriff Bo Tully. In an effort to lead his would-be killer into the open, and also to do a little gold prospecting and fishing while he's at it, Tully heads north with his ex-sheriff father, Pap, and his friend and expert tracker, Dave.
As the two cases play themselves out, Sheriff Tully finds himself hunting down one murderer who's probably long dead, and being hunted by another who's very much alive. A fast-moving tale of murder, mayhem, and mining, The Double-Jack Murders is Patrick F. McManus's darkest, most entertaining mystery yet.
228 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
28 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Patrick F. McManus
56 books423 followersPatrick F. McManus is an American outdoor humor writer. A humor columnist for Outdoor Life and other magazines, his columns have been collected in several books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
January 16, 2020
I bought this for a dollar at my local library and I'm glad it was only a dollar.
I love Pat McManus. I have all of his non-detective books. This one just didn't flow. Too much dialogue didn't seem to go anywhere, was not that witty. This is from the guy whose writing I couldn't even read out loud because I would collapse helplessly in laughter. So it was disappointing to find this book not on the same level.
Maybe others would enjoy it and I still love Pat McManus (may he rest in peace), but I won't be trying anymore of his detective novels.
I love Pat McManus. I have all of his non-detective books. This one just didn't flow. Too much dialogue didn't seem to go anywhere, was not that witty. This is from the guy whose writing I couldn't even read out loud because I would collapse helplessly in laughter. So it was disappointing to find this book not on the same level.
Maybe others would enjoy it and I still love Pat McManus (may he rest in peace), but I won't be trying anymore of his detective novels.
October 17, 2017
I greatly enjoyed the audiobooks of Patrick McManus that include his stories of Rancid Crabtree and his other zany characters. While the characters and stories were hilarious, the narration by George S. Irving made the audiobooks truly great. I was expecting over-the-top capers here as well, but McManus keeps the humor in a steady low gear. It’s still funny, just not ROTFL funny. The audiobook narration was also OK. Fine for a few hours of relaxation, but this wasn’t enough for me to rush out and buy the rest of the series.
December 14, 2009
I can't help it...I've gotten attached to these quirky, fun, characters and the stories are always interesting with just that "little twist" at the end.
May 18, 2017
I read this for a reading group discussion sponsored by the local library. I'm surprised that this type of book was selected for such a forum. While the book is entertaining and enjoyable, for my tastes it is decidedly "light" fare and frankly does reach the levels of literary quality expected (by me, anyway) in a book group discussion selection. (The discussion has yet to take place, and perhaps afterwards my feelings about the merits of the book will be modified.) Sheriff Tully is an entertaining character, and the tongue-in-cheek, dead pan, openly sarcastic style of the writing keeps the reader engaged --- although after a while for me sometimes it started to wear thin. There is some craftsmanship in the character development and how the plot has been laid out and put together. And there's a surprise at the end. But all in all, this is what I consider "fluff" --- "beach reading" --- etc. There's nothing wrong with that, and I read a lot of it, actually, for fun and entertainment. But I expect a reading group discussion to focus on a more worthwhile book. UPDATE: The book discussion didn't change my feeling about the book. Everyone present --- not just me --- felt it really wasn't a substantial enough book for a rewarding discussion.
July 15, 2023
2023 bk 25. What fun to re-visit Idaho, Blight County and the world of the Sheriffs there. When his old friend and former college teacher asks Bo's help in solving the mystery around her father's disappearance, well, Bo doesn't want to disappoint. Even thought the man disappeared in the 1920's and a hardened murderer has escaped from prison with his eyes set on Bo's life - well a man's got to do what a man's got to do. So Bo goes camping. With his father and Dave as companions and Brian Pugh serving lookout, will the men solve the mystery before they get plugged? Well done mystery that is just as good on reading it a second time as the first.
August 4, 2017
Fourth one I've read in the series and I needn't say more than to say it's as good as the others with amusing characters, an interesting mystery, and a fun way to spend an afternoon.
November 18, 2022
This was my first Patrick McManus book and I enjoyed his style of writing immensely. This book was good, clean fun with some mystery and a dash of romance. I loved the main character, Bo Tully and his goodness and just plain down to earth way of looking at things.
February 20, 2012
This was a book club read. Once I started, had to make myself finish. Although a short, easy read it was hard to make myself pick it up after each reading break. Characters flat. Dialog flat. When describing country, wildlife, anything having to do with the outdoors, the writing was fine. But dialog was succinct and humerous for the wrong reasons. Plot was thin. The stereotypical characters and cliche ridden comments were gagging. No desire to visit this series ever, ever, ever again.
November 10, 2009
I found this book rather ridiculously plotted and executed. The sheriff, the primary character, is a womanizer and I suppose the corny dialogue was supposed to be humorous. It didn't make me smile much less laugh. I had to force myself to finish it. I'll pass on this series.
August 12, 2014
Blight County Idaho Sheriff Bo Tully and associates attempt to solve an 80 year old double murder over a lost gold mine in this very entertaining if slow paced third book in the series. Wonderfully engaging characters keep me turning the pages even if the plots were are a tad light........Ed
February 3, 2021
Sheriff Bo Tully has quite a bit on his plate. And it's not just the barbeque from the big shindig that kicks off the first chapter. A crazy killer has escaped, vowing vengeance on the lawman who was silly enough to try and put him behind bars (that would be Tully). He's also taken on a 75-year-old missing persons case that most likely ended in murder. His good friend Agatha Wrenn has asked him to look into the disappearance of her father and his assistant. The two were a pair of gold miners who disappeared just when it was rumored they had found a huge vein of gold in Blight County. Agatha's mother always told her that her husband Tom Link wasn't the disappearing kind, so Agatha grew up assuming he and Sean had been murdered. And now she wants to know for sure.
Tully doesn't mind digging around in old (really old) mysteries, especially when it will suit his purposes for flushing out Lucas Kincaid--the killer on his track. So he loads up his ex-Sheriff father Pap and a tracker by the name of Dave and the three head out to Deadman Creek for a little camping, a little gold mine hunting, a little ancient murder solving, and...to set himself up as bait for Kincaid. He's also got the best shot in the sheriff's office, Deputy Brian Pugh on tap to play sharpshooter and pick Kincaid off if he tries anything. Trouble is...after Kincaid has two tries at killing him things go silent. No more evidence of Kincaid and, more troubling, not one peep out of Pugh. Did Kincaid give up that easily? Did he get Pugh first and decide that a dead deputy was as good as a dead sheriff? Just how man murders will Tully wind up solving after all?
The beginning of this one gave me déjà vu. I am quite sure that I have never read a Patrick McManus mystery before, but that whole beginning where Sheriff Tully installs his deputy in the upper floor of his house with a scope rifle to watch out for a mentally unstable escaped killer with Tully on his hit list seemed awfully familiar to me. I'm not so positive about the whole barbeque in his "front yard" (the sprawling meadow around his house), but the deputy with the rifle--yes.
Anyway...this is a decent, fast read. I didn't find it nearly as hilarious as the blurbs on the cover seemed to think I would:
The Funniest Writer Around Today (or at least in 2009)
I mean sure if you like your humor laced with macho self-appreciation or jokes about killing people (at least I think they're joking) or shooting in general or all men loving trucks--then, yeah, this is a rollicking yuck-fest. But for those of us who aren't all that keen on jokes about guns/shooting/killing and etc.--not so much. It wasn't offensive--just not funny. The primary mystery (the missing miners) wasn't too difficult to figure out. I didn't get the slight twist, but I did recognize the motive and have it attached in the general direction.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Tully doesn't mind digging around in old (really old) mysteries, especially when it will suit his purposes for flushing out Lucas Kincaid--the killer on his track. So he loads up his ex-Sheriff father Pap and a tracker by the name of Dave and the three head out to Deadman Creek for a little camping, a little gold mine hunting, a little ancient murder solving, and...to set himself up as bait for Kincaid. He's also got the best shot in the sheriff's office, Deputy Brian Pugh on tap to play sharpshooter and pick Kincaid off if he tries anything. Trouble is...after Kincaid has two tries at killing him things go silent. No more evidence of Kincaid and, more troubling, not one peep out of Pugh. Did Kincaid give up that easily? Did he get Pugh first and decide that a dead deputy was as good as a dead sheriff? Just how man murders will Tully wind up solving after all?
The beginning of this one gave me déjà vu. I am quite sure that I have never read a Patrick McManus mystery before, but that whole beginning where Sheriff Tully installs his deputy in the upper floor of his house with a scope rifle to watch out for a mentally unstable escaped killer with Tully on his hit list seemed awfully familiar to me. I'm not so positive about the whole barbeque in his "front yard" (the sprawling meadow around his house), but the deputy with the rifle--yes.
Anyway...this is a decent, fast read. I didn't find it nearly as hilarious as the blurbs on the cover seemed to think I would:
The Funniest Writer Around Today (or at least in 2009)
I mean sure if you like your humor laced with macho self-appreciation or jokes about killing people (at least I think they're joking) or shooting in general or all men loving trucks--then, yeah, this is a rollicking yuck-fest. But for those of us who aren't all that keen on jokes about guns/shooting/killing and etc.--not so much. It wasn't offensive--just not funny. The primary mystery (the missing miners) wasn't too difficult to figure out. I didn't get the slight twist, but I did recognize the motive and have it attached in the general direction.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
February 28, 2019
The last book I read in the Bo Tully series was Avalanche, and I truly did enjoy that. The Double-Jack Murders is very similar to that book, but falls short in a few major ways.
I am not surprised by the heavy doses of light humor in this book, because Patrick McManus is well known for that and it fits this series. There seemed to be a bit too much of it this time out though, particularly among the trio that go hunting in the mountains for clues to two disappearances that took place well over fifty years ago. That trio is our hero, Bo, his father and their friend Dave. There seemed to be nary a serious moment between the three, and while the sarcastic comments they made to one another could be written off as laughing in the face of danger (see the next paragraph), it did begin to wear on me. This part of the book - solving two murders from many decades past - was believable if lacking in suspense.
The lack of suspense in the main plot was filled by a subplot (a murderous mountain man who has sworn to kill Bo has escaped from jail). The denouement of that is disappointing because it is based on an unbelievable coincidence and a very head-shaking decision by a supporting character.
There is another minor subplot that does provide some character development for Bo involving his romantic life. That too includes some humor but I found the resolution subtle yet powerful.
I have the next three books in the series in my little library. I will certainly read them as I like the world of Blight County that is found in it and know that not every book by a prolific author is a winner.
I am not surprised by the heavy doses of light humor in this book, because Patrick McManus is well known for that and it fits this series. There seemed to be a bit too much of it this time out though, particularly among the trio that go hunting in the mountains for clues to two disappearances that took place well over fifty years ago. That trio is our hero, Bo, his father and their friend Dave. There seemed to be nary a serious moment between the three, and while the sarcastic comments they made to one another could be written off as laughing in the face of danger (see the next paragraph), it did begin to wear on me. This part of the book - solving two murders from many decades past - was believable if lacking in suspense.
The lack of suspense in the main plot was filled by a subplot (a murderous mountain man who has sworn to kill Bo has escaped from jail). The denouement of that is disappointing because it is based on an unbelievable coincidence and a very head-shaking decision by a supporting character.
There is another minor subplot that does provide some character development for Bo involving his romantic life. That too includes some humor but I found the resolution subtle yet powerful.
I have the next three books in the series in my little library. I will certainly read them as I like the world of Blight County that is found in it and know that not every book by a prolific author is a winner.
October 6, 2024
I have just finished “The Double-Jack Murders” by Patrick F. McManus. First, I have to tell you I LOVE reading Patrick McManus. I’ve read most, if not all, of his humor books set in the backwoods of Idaho. However, I did NOT “love” this book. Do yourself a favor, and read “A Fine and Pleasant Misery” or “They Shoot Canoes, Don’t They?” but skip his mysteries.
This book had more plot holes than a sieve. It would tell you in great detail about how the bullets in the Spanish-American war turned green due to the humidity, and people thought they were poisonous, but the real poison was just the germs in the air around them, and then tell you the same whole story a few pages later. There’s someone trying to kill him, but when the guy takes a pot-shot (or twelve) at him, no one tries to chase him down. They just go on ribbing one another and leering at various women. The ending was an afterthought: “Oh, I guess I’d better tie that up” and “Oh, I guess I like THAT girl more than the OTHER girl”. Every so often there was a phrase that would make me giggle, but that was about it.
It needed a good editor in a bad way. Sigh…two stars with great sadness for an author I have (usually) loved dearly.
This book had more plot holes than a sieve. It would tell you in great detail about how the bullets in the Spanish-American war turned green due to the humidity, and people thought they were poisonous, but the real poison was just the germs in the air around them, and then tell you the same whole story a few pages later. There’s someone trying to kill him, but when the guy takes a pot-shot (or twelve) at him, no one tries to chase him down. They just go on ribbing one another and leering at various women. The ending was an afterthought: “Oh, I guess I’d better tie that up” and “Oh, I guess I like THAT girl more than the OTHER girl”. Every so often there was a phrase that would make me giggle, but that was about it.
It needed a good editor in a bad way. Sigh…two stars with great sadness for an author I have (usually) loved dearly.
May 1, 2025
Kincaid, a psychotic killer, has escaped from prison and embarked on a murder spree.
Top of his list is Blight County sheriff Bo Tully - the man who brought him to justice.
Bo, however is not one to sit still, and opts to head into the mountains in the hope of solving the decades old disappearance of two miners.
The change of scenery will, he hopes, put the killer at something of a disadvantage.
All he's got to go on is an indistinct photograph, a rough estimate of where they were prospecting, and a story of a hidden mine.
Helping him are his irascible father, Pap, and the tracker Indian Dave.
He should have one of his deputies trailing him but he seems to have disappeared.
“The Double-Jack Murders” is a solid procedural with a good sense of humour and excellent pacing.
4 Stars.
Top of his list is Blight County sheriff Bo Tully - the man who brought him to justice.
Bo, however is not one to sit still, and opts to head into the mountains in the hope of solving the decades old disappearance of two miners.
The change of scenery will, he hopes, put the killer at something of a disadvantage.
All he's got to go on is an indistinct photograph, a rough estimate of where they were prospecting, and a story of a hidden mine.
Helping him are his irascible father, Pap, and the tracker Indian Dave.
He should have one of his deputies trailing him but he seems to have disappeared.
“The Double-Jack Murders” is a solid procedural with a good sense of humour and excellent pacing.
4 Stars.
November 9, 2017
I thought the first two books in the Bo Tully mystery series were pretty good, but something happened with this third book and the quality went downhill a bit. It’s almost like the publisher changed editors. The dialog was kind of jumpy, as was the story, and I had to make some assumptions about some of the jokes in order for them to make sense. The book was decent and the story was entertaining and I still plan on finishing the series.
I’m a HUGE McManus fan and I love his humor. Although I like his Bo Tully series, I think his short story collections are better.
I’m a HUGE McManus fan and I love his humor. Although I like his Bo Tully series, I think his short story collections are better.
December 2, 2020
Sheriff Tully is being pursued by an escaped convict from an earlier story who is out for revenge. He decides to get away from being a target by helping a friend. She has the decades-old death of her father & his mining associate for him to solve. So Bo, Pap, & Dave the tracker set off to investigate, climb into an abandoned mine, and toss good-natured insults at each other. Set in Idaho, Bo is a good ole boy sheriff who is also a well-known painter and a widower. The author manages to add humor into the stories that make the books fun, while keeping the crime aspect real.
September 14, 2020
This is, I think, book four in McManus's series featuring Blight County, Idaho Sheriff Bo Tully. It begins with an escaped killer out to kill Tully for putting him in prison. Added to that is a charming old lady's request that Bo try to solve the 75-yeas ago disappearance of her father. Tully's sidekick is again Pap, his incorrigible reprobate father. It's a good story peppered with the delightful humor found in all of McManus's books.
November 1, 2023
I don't know if this main character (Tully) just doesn't age well or if I wouldn't have like his sexist behaviors when these books first came out.
The setting is current time based on their publication/written dates, but almost seem like they could be in the Old Wild West. A county sheriff that has his own style of justice. This book has two separate storylines weaving back and forth between a 80 year-old mystery/murders and a recently escaped prisoner who wants to kill Tully.
The setting is current time based on their publication/written dates, but almost seem like they could be in the Old Wild West. A county sheriff that has his own style of justice. This book has two separate storylines weaving back and forth between a 80 year-old mystery/murders and a recently escaped prisoner who wants to kill Tully.
September 28, 2017
Wildly wonderful wacky characters!
This is the third book I have read by Patrick F. McManus. I have enjoyed all of them tremendously! McManus has some wonderful and quirky characters in his books. There is humor and surprises. Sometimes I catching myself laughing out loud. I can't wait to get another.
This is the third book I have read by Patrick F. McManus. I have enjoyed all of them tremendously! McManus has some wonderful and quirky characters in his books. There is humor and surprises. Sometimes I catching myself laughing out loud. I can't wait to get another.
August 6, 2021
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, which is often the case with sheriff Bo Tully. This chapter in the Tully series maybe isn’t the longest or have the most complex plot but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless and am looking forward to the next one and plan on enjoying the previous installments again soon.
August 25, 2021
Another entertaining story. Not quite as funny as Andy Carpenter, but still a likable, self effacing lawman who wants to keep his community safe. Things do go beyond legal occasionally but then Andy has his hacker too. In this one Sheriff Bo Tully is being hunted by an escaped sociopath. He also has been asked to solve a murder from three generations back. No problem.
February 27, 2022
Sheriff Bo Tully is asked to investigate an 80 year old missing persons cold case. He accepts the request all while trying to evade and capture Lucas Kincaid, who has sworn to kill Tully on sight. The cold-case turns out to be a case of murder, and changes Bo Tully's plans and investigation strategy, but doesn't make Bo Tully not do things the Blight County, Idaho way.
February 4, 2024
I read the whole series and by gosh, when he remembers he is funny they get amazing, when he tries to do the detective thing it’s blatantly clear he isn’t a mystery writer. There isn’t even a mystery really and when it ended I started looking for where the second half of my book went. It stands as the only book I have ever returned on Amazon.
June 24, 2018
I read this book as part of a reading challenge- I needed a book set in Idaho, and it was. Besides it being quite a light read and the main character being somewhat of a chauvinistic type, it was pretty ok.
February 2, 2026
Sheriff Bo Tully is a ladies' man who goes after the bad guys with gusto. Love the way he delegates jobs to his deputies, goes around like he has nothing to worry about. When there is an escaped prisoner set on killing him.
November 26, 2017
Just a fun, quick read.
April 19, 2018
Love these sheriff Bo Tully mysteries. This is number three. Back to the library to get number four.
April 5, 2020
Awesome
This book is fantastic, Patrick is getting better and better with his descriptions. I could smell them, laugh and cry with them.
This book is fantastic, Patrick is getting better and better with his descriptions. I could smell them, laugh and cry with them.
August 2, 2020
Such a cute, funny murder mystery. I couldn't put it down once I started it, finished in under 24 hours. I am loving Patrick McManus' work! Can't wait to read more
October 28, 2020
3rd in the Sheriff Bo Tully series. - not as good as the 1st but still fun. Characters are quite likeable to a guy like me - 3½***
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews