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A Sherri Travis Mystery #3
A Brewski For The Old Man
John Ray Leenders, the brutal man who tried to rape Sherri Travis when she was thirteen, is back in Jacaranda, living with the single mother of a teenage daughter. Sherri does not want to get involved and tries hard to ignore what she sees happening to Lacey, but it's impossible to look away. Then Sherri's father, Tully Jenkins, also reappears in her life, dragging Sherri deep into the swamp in search of alligator poachers.
- GenresMystery
350 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2011
About the author
Phyllis Smallman
19 books55 followersCrime Writers of Canada award winning author, Phyllis Smallman, was short-listed for the Debut Dagger in the UK, and has been awarded both silver and gold medals by the Independent Publishers. She was a potter before turning to a life of crime. She lives on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, where she golfs badly and writes madly.
Visit http://www.phyllismallman.com to read excerpts from her Singer Brown and Sherri Travis books.
Visit http://www.phyllismallman.com to read excerpts from her Singer Brown and Sherri Travis books.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 11, 2017
Great reunion
Love the father- daughter interaction. Found some of the reasons for Sherri going to certain places to be a bit contrived, and perhaps the author felt a need to provide myriad details to explain why Sherri slipped and fell into mud getting out of a truck, but I font think most readers would have needed all the details about a glove compartment box not staying shut in order to explain stuff being on the floorboard. Not all of us believe in hiding garbage in our kitchen like we just don't have any, don't make any, and don't live. I like how the pieces of her life were Mohr connected than she knew, three way most of us over het ahe learn how ignorant of life we really are at 20 and 30 and even 40. It's all a facade, that we build ourselves or buy into. Its entertaining to see Marlene calling Sherri on her own flip from devil may care, to bring concerned about appearances and wanting to keep a man happy just to keep him, even if what kept him happy was by denying het own sense of identity and purpose. I hope the insights and growing continue.
Love the father- daughter interaction. Found some of the reasons for Sherri going to certain places to be a bit contrived, and perhaps the author felt a need to provide myriad details to explain why Sherri slipped and fell into mud getting out of a truck, but I font think most readers would have needed all the details about a glove compartment box not staying shut in order to explain stuff being on the floorboard. Not all of us believe in hiding garbage in our kitchen like we just don't have any, don't make any, and don't live. I like how the pieces of her life were Mohr connected than she knew, three way most of us over het ahe learn how ignorant of life we really are at 20 and 30 and even 40. It's all a facade, that we build ourselves or buy into. Its entertaining to see Marlene calling Sherri on her own flip from devil may care, to bring concerned about appearances and wanting to keep a man happy just to keep him, even if what kept him happy was by denying het own sense of identity and purpose. I hope the insights and growing continue.
August 3, 2022
"A Brewski For The Old Man", how does that relate to this story? Well it gets said a couple times when Sherri's dad wants a beer. This suggests a strong relationship with her father, but that relationship was severely damaged in the past.
Really the story is about Sherri getting involved in everyone else's life. She seems to have an impact far and wide, sometimes deep, sometimes shallow. Sherri is driven to this as her early life was a huge disaster. As she tries to climb out she realizes the problem is still around. That drives her to inadvisably get involved. But we see that this is a trait her father had, so learned quite young - even if she didn't realize it.
It is an interesting story but not told in a fashion which would draw the reader in.
Really the story is about Sherri getting involved in everyone else's life. She seems to have an impact far and wide, sometimes deep, sometimes shallow. Sherri is driven to this as her early life was a huge disaster. As she tries to climb out she realizes the problem is still around. That drives her to inadvisably get involved. But we see that this is a trait her father had, so learned quite young - even if she didn't realize it.
It is an interesting story but not told in a fashion which would draw the reader in.
July 5, 2017
Read all 3 in the series
I binge read the Sherri Travis Mysteries. I live in Florida, and can relate to the geography. I will probably read more of this authors books. Very entertaining. How could you not like Sherri?
I binge read the Sherri Travis Mysteries. I live in Florida, and can relate to the geography. I will probably read more of this authors books. Very entertaining. How could you not like Sherri?
March 28, 2011
The third installment in the Sherri Travis Mystery series follows Margarita Nights and Sex in a Sidecar. After a hurricane and a psychopath tore the town of Jacaranda apart, bartender Sherri is rebuilding the Sunset with the investment of her new lover, Clay. Just as things seem to be returning to normal, Sherri is shocked to find the man who beat her mother and molested her as a teen is involved with one of her tenants, Reena. Though reluctant to get involved, Sherri finds herself dealing with Reena's troubled teen daughter, a vicious stalker, light fingered staff, duelling chef's, her best friend's relationship crisis and then Ray is murdered and her gun is missing.
There is no lack of momentum in this crowded plot, Smallman juggles themes of domestic abuse, teenage 'cutting', stalking, blackmail, alligator poaching and greedy property developers as Sherri finds herself involved in one crisis after another. It certainly keeps things interesting, but the threads of the plot connected naturally and tied up neatly at the conclusion of the book. I did feel at times that the story didn't flow easily and scene jumps were sometimes abrupt but that may have had something to do with the ebook formatting. The mystery aspect is well plotted with a number of suspects that keep you guessing.
As in the two previous books, Smallman pays as much attention to her characters as her plot. Sherri struggles with being relied upon and relying on others after her tumultuous childhood and marriage, and this book concentrates on the development of these aspects of her character. Despite her reluctance, she can not turn away from Lacey's desperation or Reena's situation, even though her involvement means her life is threatened and she is accused of murder. When family friend Ziggy is injured in a move designed to make him leave his property, Sherri teams up with her father to track the men responsible and then moves Ziggy into her and Clay's home for his recovery. Sherri is also finding the management of the Sunset more complicated than she expected, and she doesn't want to let Clay down. With Clay absent through the novel (sailing in a race, Sherri doesn't have his immediate support and dealing with these situations are big steps for Sherri who values her independence and generally dislikes being responsible to, or for others.
A Brewski For The Old Man a quick and engaging read with plenty to recommend it to readers who enjoy a cozy mystery with an edge. With so much nuance tied to the characters, could be a little bewildering for someone who hasn't read the previous books in the series, though I think the plot holds it's own and it could work as a stand alone.
There is no lack of momentum in this crowded plot, Smallman juggles themes of domestic abuse, teenage 'cutting', stalking, blackmail, alligator poaching and greedy property developers as Sherri finds herself involved in one crisis after another. It certainly keeps things interesting, but the threads of the plot connected naturally and tied up neatly at the conclusion of the book. I did feel at times that the story didn't flow easily and scene jumps were sometimes abrupt but that may have had something to do with the ebook formatting. The mystery aspect is well plotted with a number of suspects that keep you guessing.
As in the two previous books, Smallman pays as much attention to her characters as her plot. Sherri struggles with being relied upon and relying on others after her tumultuous childhood and marriage, and this book concentrates on the development of these aspects of her character. Despite her reluctance, she can not turn away from Lacey's desperation or Reena's situation, even though her involvement means her life is threatened and she is accused of murder. When family friend Ziggy is injured in a move designed to make him leave his property, Sherri teams up with her father to track the men responsible and then moves Ziggy into her and Clay's home for his recovery. Sherri is also finding the management of the Sunset more complicated than she expected, and she doesn't want to let Clay down. With Clay absent through the novel (sailing in a race, Sherri doesn't have his immediate support and dealing with these situations are big steps for Sherri who values her independence and generally dislikes being responsible to, or for others.
A Brewski For The Old Man a quick and engaging read with plenty to recommend it to readers who enjoy a cozy mystery with an edge. With so much nuance tied to the characters, could be a little bewildering for someone who hasn't read the previous books in the series, though I think the plot holds it's own and it could work as a stand alone.
December 3, 2011
Book 3, in the Sherri Travis Mystery
This installment is a captivating tale with a serious moral undertone meant to please lovers of soft mysteries and aficionados of female sleuth protagonists. Ms. Smallman's novels are a great escape from hard core detective stories and thrillers, easy and enjoyable to read.
The compelling plot punctuated with suspenseful moments has restaurateur Sherri Travis returning to her hometown of Jacaranda, Florida. As new owner of the beach front Sunset Bar and Grill she quickly learns the pre-season slump is not all smooth sailing, her hope is to survive till the tourists return and business is in full swing.
As business begins to pick up, her mother's boyfriend, Ray Leenders, suddenly comes back into the picture. He had taken advantage of her when she was twelve and the memories have haunted her ever since. She kept the secret hidden never telling anyone especially her father, Tully Jenkins, an ex- Vietnam vet with a bad temper and a short fuse. Now years later, Ray reappears dating Rena Cagel, who runs the store below the bar and Sherri suspects he is likely up to his old tricks and abusing her sixteen year old daughter, Lacey. Questioned, Lacey confirms her suspicions and confides that she is also reluctant to tell her mother, she accepts Sherri's offer to stay at her condo to escape the unwanted advances. Sherri confronts Ray and threatens to blow the whistle on him. Things quickly spiral out of control and Tully offers his help and before we know it someone ends up in hospital and Sherri finds herself the prime suspect in a murder case.
The storyline has a lot of momentum to it especially with Sherri finding herself involved in one crisis after another. Sherri's struggle to untangle everything and stay one step ahead proved to be a touching experience. The threads in this crowded and intriguing plot juggle many themes from domestic abuse, blackmail, greed and even alligator poaching into an expertly written story with a neat conclusion. Several characters are fascinating and well-developed but some are depicted more like loveable caricatures. The storyline is fast paced, has snappy dialogue and is accented with a touch of humour.
I like this series for its lightness and its down to earth protagonist.
This installment is a captivating tale with a serious moral undertone meant to please lovers of soft mysteries and aficionados of female sleuth protagonists. Ms. Smallman's novels are a great escape from hard core detective stories and thrillers, easy and enjoyable to read.
The compelling plot punctuated with suspenseful moments has restaurateur Sherri Travis returning to her hometown of Jacaranda, Florida. As new owner of the beach front Sunset Bar and Grill she quickly learns the pre-season slump is not all smooth sailing, her hope is to survive till the tourists return and business is in full swing.
As business begins to pick up, her mother's boyfriend, Ray Leenders, suddenly comes back into the picture. He had taken advantage of her when she was twelve and the memories have haunted her ever since. She kept the secret hidden never telling anyone especially her father, Tully Jenkins, an ex- Vietnam vet with a bad temper and a short fuse. Now years later, Ray reappears dating Rena Cagel, who runs the store below the bar and Sherri suspects he is likely up to his old tricks and abusing her sixteen year old daughter, Lacey. Questioned, Lacey confirms her suspicions and confides that she is also reluctant to tell her mother, she accepts Sherri's offer to stay at her condo to escape the unwanted advances. Sherri confronts Ray and threatens to blow the whistle on him. Things quickly spiral out of control and Tully offers his help and before we know it someone ends up in hospital and Sherri finds herself the prime suspect in a murder case.
The storyline has a lot of momentum to it especially with Sherri finding herself involved in one crisis after another. Sherri's struggle to untangle everything and stay one step ahead proved to be a touching experience. The threads in this crowded and intriguing plot juggle many themes from domestic abuse, blackmail, greed and even alligator poaching into an expertly written story with a neat conclusion. Several characters are fascinating and well-developed but some are depicted more like loveable caricatures. The storyline is fast paced, has snappy dialogue and is accented with a touch of humour.
I like this series for its lightness and its down to earth protagonist.
June 15, 2010
Sherri Travis is the new owner of the Sunset Bar and Grill. Sherri has made friends with Rena and her daughter, Lacey. Things are going well until Rena shows up with a man that she hoped to never lay eyes on again…Ray John Leenders. When Sherri was about thirteen years old, Ray tried to rape her.
Sherri doesn’t trust Ray. In fact, she hopes to protect Lacey from having to go through what she had to. As if, Sherri doesn’t have enough on her mind, her father returns. Things are never dull when Sherri is around.
A Brewski for the Old Man is the first novel I have read by author, Phyllis Smallman. This book is the third Sherri Travis mystery novel. At first I thought that I would have problems following this book as the first chapter made mention of some things that took place in the prior novels, which I had not read. Lucky, there was enough of an explanation for me to get caught up and it appeared that having not read the prior two novels did not take away from my experience reading this one.
I like Sherri. She makes her own rules and is afraid of no one. I so wanted to scream when Rena was sticking up for Ray. Though, she didn’t really have a clue what type of a monster Ray was. I couldn’t believe that Rena would be that clueless. A Brewski for the Old Man is a classic who-dun-it novel. Overall, this is a pretty good book and worth a look and your time.
Sherri doesn’t trust Ray. In fact, she hopes to protect Lacey from having to go through what she had to. As if, Sherri doesn’t have enough on her mind, her father returns. Things are never dull when Sherri is around.
A Brewski for the Old Man is the first novel I have read by author, Phyllis Smallman. This book is the third Sherri Travis mystery novel. At first I thought that I would have problems following this book as the first chapter made mention of some things that took place in the prior novels, which I had not read. Lucky, there was enough of an explanation for me to get caught up and it appeared that having not read the prior two novels did not take away from my experience reading this one.
I like Sherri. She makes her own rules and is afraid of no one. I so wanted to scream when Rena was sticking up for Ray. Though, she didn’t really have a clue what type of a monster Ray was. I couldn’t believe that Rena would be that clueless. A Brewski for the Old Man is a classic who-dun-it novel. Overall, this is a pretty good book and worth a look and your time.
December 8, 2012
Sherri Travis Mystery # 3 got to me right away. While learning more about Sherri's past history, you are also thrown into how she manages to get herself into another pickle and again whispers begin about the cloud that circled her when her husband is murdered. Kept me on the edge of my seat till the end. Although she is so self conscious of her upbringing, she comes to terms with her father and finally sees a bit of him that she can be proud of. Another great book.
March 25, 2014
A mystery set in Florida off the coast of Sarasota. A colorful cast of characters and a fast moving story. Only drawback was the end where the heroine get led like a lamb to slaughter into the killer's liar! What was she thinking... that particular plot element needed work but overall it didn't ruin the story, the killer was an excellent character choice. The local Florida flavor appealed to me!
April 4, 2016
Phyllis has done it again - from abuse to alligators this book covers it all!! And with humor - best line in the book "how could a beer keg give birth to a six foot glass of champagne"! As I've said before it is best to read them in order. Off to read book #4.
May 7, 2011
I've enjoyed all of Phyllis Smallman's books so far but Brewski for the Old Mad is my favourite. The combination of humour, mystery, and family angst really struck a chord with me.
August 18, 2011
I really enjoyed this outing with Sherri Travis. I am looking forward to reading the next one.
September 14, 2012
good reay reading
July 14, 2013
Ok. Least favourite of the series but still a quick, fun read.
November 10, 2015
The series continues to be great to read.
March 1, 2016
Sherri reconnects with her father, solves another disturbing mystery and the series continues getting better.
Read
November 8, 2017Awesome book I really enjoyed it. I bought the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews