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Sheriff Dan Rhodes #4
Death on the Move
Sheriff Dan Rhodes stands to lose his reputation and the lives of more citizens unless he can find the person robbing funeral parlor corpses--and landing them there in the first place
193 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1989
37 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Bill Crider
241 books235 followersTaught English at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Tex., and went on to become the chair of the Division of English and Fine Arts at Alvin Community College in Alvin, Tex.; prolific writer of mystery, science fiction, western, horror, and children's books, not to mention short stories, articles, reviews, and blog posts; perhaps best known for his Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery series.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 11, 2015
Dan Rhodes faces some interesting new challenges in this the fourth outing and the last for this publisher (Walker).
First off some one is robbing the female corpses at the local funeral home which is causing quite a stir with the relatives of the recently deceased, the towns people and who gets blamed ? The owners of the funeral home of course, one of whom is a close friend of Rhodes and a huge mystery reader. While investigating this crisis, Rhodes gets another call, a nude dead woman has been discovered wrapped in packing tape in a recently robbed house in his district.
And that's not all, the events pile up, even as Rhodes tries to plan his impending marriage, what to eat other than bologna and drink Dr. Pepper, and what old movie to watch.
The whole crew is on hand to give him a hard time and his dog Speedo who's real name is Mr. Earl is also along for the ride.
First off some one is robbing the female corpses at the local funeral home which is causing quite a stir with the relatives of the recently deceased, the towns people and who gets blamed ? The owners of the funeral home of course, one of whom is a close friend of Rhodes and a huge mystery reader. While investigating this crisis, Rhodes gets another call, a nude dead woman has been discovered wrapped in packing tape in a recently robbed house in his district.
And that's not all, the events pile up, even as Rhodes tries to plan his impending marriage, what to eat other than bologna and drink Dr. Pepper, and what old movie to watch.
The whole crew is on hand to give him a hard time and his dog Speedo who's real name is Mr. Earl is also along for the ride.
April 5, 2019
Bill Crider’s writing seems to improve with every book in the series. This mystery is filled with the same quirky humor, zany characters, interesting plot, and Texas setting fans have come to expect.
October 18, 2012
BOTTOM LINE: #4 Sheriff Dan Rhodes, Blacklin County, Texas, cosy police procedural. A rash of burglaries leads to murder, somebody’s ripping off corpses at the local fancy funeral home, and Dan and Ivy set the date for their wedding. Another wonderful visit with Dan and his friends and co-workers, in not-so-quiet Blacklin, filled with lots of cranky characters, including Speedo the dog.
Poor Dan is still a mite Energizer Bunny (laid back version) as he gets himself beat up a bit again and again, and keeps on working, but the pacing is fast and the entire plot is played for laughs just enough to make it all enjoyable. Recommended for those who like both mild satire and nearly slapstick comedy with their police procedurals, and have a taste for old movies as well.
I ought to be becoming bored with the series by now, but Crider keeps me laughing, and loving, the place and the people and the loony yet somehow realistic plots.
Poor Dan is still a mite Energizer Bunny (laid back version) as he gets himself beat up a bit again and again, and keeps on working, but the pacing is fast and the entire plot is played for laughs just enough to make it all enjoyable. Recommended for those who like both mild satire and nearly slapstick comedy with their police procedurals, and have a taste for old movies as well.
I ought to be becoming bored with the series by now, but Crider keeps me laughing, and loving, the place and the people and the loony yet somehow realistic plots.
August 16, 2012
#4 in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series. Average entry.
Sheriff Dan Rhodes of Blacklin County, Texas, must solve crimes involving jewelry stolen off the corpses at Clyde Ballinger's funeral home; a series of burglaries at several summer homes; and the murder of a woman whose body is discovered wrapped in duct tape at one of the houses. The suspects include several out-of-towners, some folks from deep in the woods, and an elderly woman with a gun.
Sheriff Dan Rhodes of Blacklin County, Texas, must solve crimes involving jewelry stolen off the corpses at Clyde Ballinger's funeral home; a series of burglaries at several summer homes; and the murder of a woman whose body is discovered wrapped in duct tape at one of the houses. The suspects include several out-of-towners, some folks from deep in the woods, and an elderly woman with a gun.
May 3, 2022
This series is always so good, I read till my eyes burn but a great deal of satisfaction. These western mysteries are superb. Can't put it down until I've finished.
May 7, 2025
“Death on the Move” sees Sheriff Dan Rhodes trying to come to grips with a crime wave in Blackling County, Texas.
Female corpses are being stripped of their jewellery at the local funeral home.
Rural vacation homes in a rural area are being systematically stripped of everything of any value.
While examining one of those homes Dan finds the duct taped body of a woman.
Even though the novel was published nearly 40 years ago there is little to mark its age (lack of computer and mobile phones).
Dan is very much a hands on Sheriff, he likes to get out and about and follow every clue personally.
In a way it is a cosy mystery book.
Ivy's 'death' was a memorable and funny scene.
3.5 Stars, raised to 4 Stars.
Female corpses are being stripped of their jewellery at the local funeral home.
Rural vacation homes in a rural area are being systematically stripped of everything of any value.
While examining one of those homes Dan finds the duct taped body of a woman.
Even though the novel was published nearly 40 years ago there is little to mark its age (lack of computer and mobile phones).
Dan is very much a hands on Sheriff, he likes to get out and about and follow every clue personally.
In a way it is a cosy mystery book.
Ivy's 'death' was a memorable and funny scene.
3.5 Stars, raised to 4 Stars.
December 23, 2017
This was my third book starring Sheriff Dan Rhodes, Blacklin County, Texas, and the cozy, sometimes quirky (robbing corpses at a local funeral home, dead woman wrapped in duct tape, etc.), police investigations. His office doesn't have a computer or any scientific equipment to assist him, but he liked to think that he knew how to read people. That is his strong point and his focus in every investigation.
January 31, 2020
Another thoroughly enjoyable book in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series. There are several crimes involved, including burglaries and a murder. Sheriff Rhodes' relationship with Ivy Daniels continues to progress.
September 21, 2017
This series keeps getting better. Mrs. McGee is a great character in this one. Rhodes reaction to Ivy is good too and the burglars are a trip.
April 18, 2019
This was an intriguing storyline... enjoyed to the last page!! am getting into this Series!!
April 25, 2025
Reading through this series 30 years after it was written. They are mentioning the first time computers are appearing in the work place. So interesting.
May 1, 2025
Nice read
Love these books. Not too over the top. A nice read that has some fun characters. Sheriff Dan Rhodes is a good series.
Love these books. Not too over the top. A nice read that has some fun characters. Sheriff Dan Rhodes is a good series.
Read
February 5, 2026Not my kind of book. Others in my family liked it.
December 13, 2015
Death on the Move is the fourth book in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes from Bracklin County Texas series. Sheriff Dan Rhodes is being called upon to investigate several happenings in his county. First of all, the mystery paperback enthusiast Funeral Home owner is in hot water with bereaved families. Someone is stealing the jewelry off their dearly beloved. Next a call comes in to the Sheriff from an elderly somewhat reclusive woman that she suspects something suspicious is going on in her remote neighborhood. She has recently been seeing a green and white moving truck going past her home. Upon investigating her call, a body is discovered in one of the neighborhood cabins. So Sheriff Dan Rhodes must solve these cases without the use of computers, etc. but through personal investigation.
The Sheriff Dan Rhodes series has been a comfortable relaxing read for me. It is is due to the personality of Dan Rhodes. He is low tech and uses his ability to read people while talking to them. He loves Dr. Pepper in a bottle and he enjoys bologna sandwiches and old moves. There was humor in the book brought in by the secondary characters. There is plenty of action in the story. The story read fast and held my interest through out the book. It was an enjoyable read.
The Sheriff Dan Rhodes series has been a comfortable relaxing read for me. It is is due to the personality of Dan Rhodes. He is low tech and uses his ability to read people while talking to them. He loves Dr. Pepper in a bottle and he enjoys bologna sandwiches and old moves. There was humor in the book brought in by the secondary characters. There is plenty of action in the story. The story read fast and held my interest through out the book. It was an enjoyable read.
November 17, 2020
Sheriff Dan Rhodes is the chief law-enforcement officer in a small Texas town. He has serious problems that are bigger than you’d think his community should have.
Someone is stealing jewelry off dead people in the town’s only funeral home. The loved ones aren’t happy, as you might imagine, and the funeral director is in serious trouble.
Worse still, someone is breaking and entering summer houses on a lakeshore near town. The vandals and burglars are emptying the houses of their possessions. An elderly woman who also lives on the lakeshore is more than a little trigger happy, and the sheriff finds a naked woman in a closet whose killer mummified her with duct tape.
This is a light-hearted six-hour listen despite the darkness of a murder and stolen items from corpses. The characters will make you smile, and Sheriff Rhodes is finally making an actual date commitment to marry his fiancé. There’s no bad language in the book, and there are no sexual descriptions.
Someone is stealing jewelry off dead people in the town’s only funeral home. The loved ones aren’t happy, as you might imagine, and the funeral director is in serious trouble.
Worse still, someone is breaking and entering summer houses on a lakeshore near town. The vandals and burglars are emptying the houses of their possessions. An elderly woman who also lives on the lakeshore is more than a little trigger happy, and the sheriff finds a naked woman in a closet whose killer mummified her with duct tape.
This is a light-hearted six-hour listen despite the darkness of a murder and stolen items from corpses. The characters will make you smile, and Sheriff Rhodes is finally making an actual date commitment to marry his fiancé. There’s no bad language in the book, and there are no sexual descriptions.
December 1, 2010
I picked this up at the used bookstore and I'm glad I did. I'd been meaning to read some of the Dan Rhodes series for a while, so this was a good beginning.
Sheriff Rhodes is dealing with several crimes at once. Someone is stealing jewelry from the dead at the local funeral home and there's about to be a riot from their families! There are also burglaries going on, and in the process of dealing with those, he finds a body wrapped up in duct tape.
It's a solid mystery with interesting and strong characters. I'll be checking out more in the series.
Sheriff Rhodes is dealing with several crimes at once. Someone is stealing jewelry from the dead at the local funeral home and there's about to be a riot from their families! There are also burglaries going on, and in the process of dealing with those, he finds a body wrapped up in duct tape.
It's a solid mystery with interesting and strong characters. I'll be checking out more in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2015
book 4 of mystery series set in Texas. Someone is stealing jewelry from bodies at the funeral home. Someone else is burglarizing unoccupied houses and making off with furniture and appliances. And a woman's body is found in one of the emptied houses, wrapped up in duct tape.
As always, a fast read with the usual eccentric characters.
As always, a fast read with the usual eccentric characters.
January 27, 2013
I really enjoy this series. They read quick, and you care about the people you are reading about.
The clues are all there, if you can put them together...if you can't, Sheriff Dan Rhodes will. And that's the fun part!
The clues are all there, if you can put them together...if you can't, Sheriff Dan Rhodes will. And that's the fun part!
September 7, 2015
good series
December 21, 2015
Ida & Sheriff Dan Rhodes make a great duo, she helps in some interesting situations
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews