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Sheriff Dan Rhodes #17
Murder in the Air
There's a big stink in Blacklin County, and everyone seems to think Sheriff Dan Rhodes should do something about it. The smell is coming from the giant chicken farm owned by Lester Hamilton. Rhodes sees this as a matter for the state's air-quality enforcement agency, not the county sheriff. That all changes, however, when Hamilton is found dead, floating in an old rock pit not far from the town of Clearview. Hamilton had probably been engaged in the act of noodling for catfish, which is not only highly dangerous but illegal in Texas.
Rhodes suspects that Hamilton didn't die by accident, though. There are plenty of suspects, including an eccentric community college professor and one of his colleagues, who lives near the chicken farm and has to wear a respirator mask to ward off the smell. Also, someone known in the county as Robin Hood is going around shooting arrows into utility poles as a protest. When semi-nude protestors arrive at the chicken farm, things really begin to get out of hand.
Filled with fun, mayhem, and memorable characters, Murder in the Air is a wonderful addition to this very excellent series. Award-winning author Bill Crider shows again that he is one of the most talented and entertaining mystery writers around.
Rhodes suspects that Hamilton didn't die by accident, though. There are plenty of suspects, including an eccentric community college professor and one of his colleagues, who lives near the chicken farm and has to wear a respirator mask to ward off the smell. Also, someone known in the county as Robin Hood is going around shooting arrows into utility poles as a protest. When semi-nude protestors arrive at the chicken farm, things really begin to get out of hand.
Filled with fun, mayhem, and memorable characters, Murder in the Air is a wonderful addition to this very excellent series. Award-winning author Bill Crider shows again that he is one of the most talented and entertaining mystery writers around.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2010
3 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Bill Crider
241 books236 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 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 3, 2016
Dan Rhodes is the sheriff of rural Blacklin County, Texas. and you can’t help but like him and his associates, this is proven again and again as this consistently engaging series continues into this seventieth installment of his adventures titled “Murder In the Air”.
Author Bill Crider has introduced some new potential challenges to our easygoing sheriff, first off, his county supervisor bosses want to provide his department with M-16’s, that fire nine hundred and fifty rounds per minute, perhaps the same number as half of the residents in the county, to fight off the potential terrorists invading the county from Mezico. None of which had ever been seen, and the sheriff doesn’t really like guns anyway. He would rather take a bullet than shoot anyone.
As fate would have it, a dead body is discovered floating in the local rock pit. Did the man drown while illegally fishing ? Was he bitten by a water moccasin ? Was he pulled under by a giant catfish known to inhabit the rock pit ? Sheriff Rhodes believes he was murdered, and the dead man turns out to be none other that the owner of a giant chicken farm, which is smelling up half the county.
Then, as Rhodes begins his investigation he must contend with a dozen naked women protesters at the chicken farm, a Robin Hood type avenger shooting arrows into telephone poles, and other wacky situations. And always the ever present search of where to find that Dr. Pepper, in a bottle and with real sugar.
I recently read that Mr. Crider has turned into his publisher, for 2017 “Dead, to Begin With”. This makes me happy. And everyone please wish him well, Mr. Crider is currently in the hospital.
Author Bill Crider has introduced some new potential challenges to our easygoing sheriff, first off, his county supervisor bosses want to provide his department with M-16’s, that fire nine hundred and fifty rounds per minute, perhaps the same number as half of the residents in the county, to fight off the potential terrorists invading the county from Mezico. None of which had ever been seen, and the sheriff doesn’t really like guns anyway. He would rather take a bullet than shoot anyone.
As fate would have it, a dead body is discovered floating in the local rock pit. Did the man drown while illegally fishing ? Was he bitten by a water moccasin ? Was he pulled under by a giant catfish known to inhabit the rock pit ? Sheriff Rhodes believes he was murdered, and the dead man turns out to be none other that the owner of a giant chicken farm, which is smelling up half the county.
Then, as Rhodes begins his investigation he must contend with a dozen naked women protesters at the chicken farm, a Robin Hood type avenger shooting arrows into telephone poles, and other wacky situations. And always the ever present search of where to find that Dr. Pepper, in a bottle and with real sugar.
I recently read that Mr. Crider has turned into his publisher, for 2017 “Dead, to Begin With”. This makes me happy. And everyone please wish him well, Mr. Crider is currently in the hospital.
January 6, 2011
#17 Dan Rhodes humorous mystery
When Lester Hamilton is found murdered, no one in Blacklin County, Texas is one bit sad. Hamilton's huge commercial chicken farm stinks up the air for miles around. The citizens have complained for years and sought to have it cleaned up - to no avail.
Normally I would never begin a series with #17, but this sounded like so much fun that I couldn't resist. Sheriff Dan Rhodes is a calm and composed guy, but the county commissioners, jail staff and citizens of the area are very colorful. Some folks are downright goofy and very funny.
Sheriff Rhodes investigates Lester's murder, along with the mysterious "Robin Hood" figure, who is shooting arrows with notes attached around town. One county commissioner is intent on ordering an M-16 to fight crime, but Sheriff Dan thinks a computer would be more helpful.
I was surprised to learn of "noodling" -- where fisherman try to catch catfish by getting in the water and using their fist to lure the fish. I guess the fish bites down on the hand and the fisherman "catches" the fish by pulling it out of the water and hoping he can get the catfish to let go of his hand. I'm not sure if "noodling" is a real thing or just invented for entertainment purposes in this book which features a few fisherman.
I liked this comic mystery alot, but don't know how I can realistically take on a new to me series.
When Lester Hamilton is found murdered, no one in Blacklin County, Texas is one bit sad. Hamilton's huge commercial chicken farm stinks up the air for miles around. The citizens have complained for years and sought to have it cleaned up - to no avail.
Normally I would never begin a series with #17, but this sounded like so much fun that I couldn't resist. Sheriff Dan Rhodes is a calm and composed guy, but the county commissioners, jail staff and citizens of the area are very colorful. Some folks are downright goofy and very funny.
Sheriff Rhodes investigates Lester's murder, along with the mysterious "Robin Hood" figure, who is shooting arrows with notes attached around town. One county commissioner is intent on ordering an M-16 to fight crime, but Sheriff Dan thinks a computer would be more helpful.
I was surprised to learn of "noodling" -- where fisherman try to catch catfish by getting in the water and using their fist to lure the fish. I guess the fish bites down on the hand and the fisherman "catches" the fish by pulling it out of the water and hoping he can get the catfish to let go of his hand. I'm not sure if "noodling" is a real thing or just invented for entertainment purposes in this book which features a few fisherman.
I liked this comic mystery alot, but don't know how I can realistically take on a new to me series.
September 25, 2010
The air quality in Blacklin County has taken a turn for the worse since Lester Hamilton industrialized his chicken farm, and the neighbors in nearby Clearwater are none too happy.
Their complaints seem to fall on deaf ears until someone takes matters into their own hands and Hamilton is found floating in Murdock’s rock pit, the victim of foul play. By the time the second body is found you are whole-heartedly involved in piecing the pieces of the puzzle together.
Crider throws out enough red-herrings to keep you guessing in this light-hearted mystery that will often find you chortling as you scratch your head figuring out who dun it. Throw in a little romance, small town characters and one nosy newspaper reporter and this is a fun, fast read for one of those weekends when you just want to kick back and relax
Their complaints seem to fall on deaf ears until someone takes matters into their own hands and Hamilton is found floating in Murdock’s rock pit, the victim of foul play. By the time the second body is found you are whole-heartedly involved in piecing the pieces of the puzzle together.
Crider throws out enough red-herrings to keep you guessing in this light-hearted mystery that will often find you chortling as you scratch your head figuring out who dun it. Throw in a little romance, small town characters and one nosy newspaper reporter and this is a fun, fast read for one of those weekends when you just want to kick back and relax
August 7, 2010
Lester Hamilton is the most hated man in Blacklin county, especially by neighbors of his factory chicken farm, who hate the stench and pollution his farm has brought. So when he's found floating in a rock pit where he'd been fishing, sheriff Dan Rhodes has trouble believing it's an accident. Among those who have protested the farm are local college professors, an orchard owner, and a mysterious figure dubbed Robin Hood who shoots arrows with notes attached into buildings. Add a few more wacky Texsans, including a county commissioner whose fears of terrorism stem from a Nick Carter paperback, and you get the usual reliable Crider performance.
September 20, 2012
This is only the second book I've read in the series. I loved it. Could not imagine the chicken coop very well,but watched Food Inc, and realized why the neighbors hated the chicken factory in this story. I plan to read more of his books. The investigation was methodical and interesting and revealed layer by layer as Sheriff Rhodes found the information, like we were along for the ride. READ it.
August 21, 2015
I love Bill Crider and his Sheriff Dan Rhodes mysteries - this one was no exception. A good mystery, charming characters and humor - my idea of a good read.
July 14, 2017
Another good mystery by Bill Crider. In this tale Sheriff Dan Rhodes deals with small town folks, a body in an old rock pit, catfish noodling, and a stinky, giant farm. A well-written novel.
April 12, 2015
Meddlesome Blacklin County commissioner Mikey Burns believes the local law enforcement needs some heavy duty firepower, perhaps like an M-16 for starters. But Sheriff Dan Rhodes is skeptical, wanting to know what would require that much assault power in their rural Texas community. Most day-to-day activities occupying Rhodes and his deputies’ time is trite: a hog on the loose, a nosy reporter, and Bikini clad protestors. The closest nuisance resembling danger is a loose cannon nicknamed Robin Hood going about shooting arrows with political messages attached … though, Rhodes has a hard time taking umbrage with one of the missives that reads, "Reelect Sheriff Dan Rhodes." The commish is vague when responding.
"There are other things to worry about," Burns said.
"Water moccasins?" Rhodes asked. "They're about the most dangerous things in the county, but I don't think we'd need nine hundred and fifty rounds a minute at nearly three thousand feet per second for a snake."
Events turn a shade darker when Lester Hamilton, the most hated man in Blacklin County, is found dead at Murdock's rock pit—a rock pit in name only, considering that years ago it was filled in with water and is now a fishing hole stocked with bass and catfish. Hamilton’s body is found submerged under a jutting rock, and at first it’s believed his death might simply be a misadventure from noodling which was a favorite past time of Hamilton’s. (Noodling is where thrill seekers stick their hand into a watery crevice with the hopes a catfish will lock onto their arm. Yes, hard to believe but true.) But Sheriff Rhodes learns through the autopsy that Hamilton was murdered, and the whole county, practically, could be suspects including the rogue archer. Main reason for Hamilton’s contemptible status is that he owned a factory farm with thousands of chickens that are not only a noise disturbance to the residents living in close proximity but there are legitimate concerns over animal cruelty and air pollution.
Pressure on the police department intensifies when a second homicide occurs. Hal Gillis, the man who had found Hamilton’s immersed corpse, had been a prime suspect. But, rest assured, Sheriff Dan has plenty of other suspects to choose from, and, later, finds himself and a passenger pinned down in his cruiser by Robin Hood, notching up suspicions against that loco. Sheriff Rhodes reaches for his shotgun—probably wishing he had that machine gun—and goes on the offensive.
He held the shotgun in front of him with both hands as he jogged toward the farmhouse.
The first arrow flew past him to the right, missing him by at least ten feet. It didn’t miss the Charger, however. Rhodes heard it going into the side of the car. He thought he heard a muffled scream, but that was probably just his imagination.
Crider’s laid back dialogue will leave the reader chuckling along as Sheriff Dan wades through the various characters in this small town. When Hack breaks the initial news to Sheriff Rhodes about Lester Hamilton’s passing, he can’t contain himself, “That’s right,” Hack said. “Dead. No Less, no more.” And that phrase is repeated not once but twice more to the ongoing dismay of Sheriff Rhodes.
Murder in the Air is a top mystery. If you haven't read these books, well, here's a damn good place to begin.
"There are other things to worry about," Burns said.
"Water moccasins?" Rhodes asked. "They're about the most dangerous things in the county, but I don't think we'd need nine hundred and fifty rounds a minute at nearly three thousand feet per second for a snake."
Events turn a shade darker when Lester Hamilton, the most hated man in Blacklin County, is found dead at Murdock's rock pit—a rock pit in name only, considering that years ago it was filled in with water and is now a fishing hole stocked with bass and catfish. Hamilton’s body is found submerged under a jutting rock, and at first it’s believed his death might simply be a misadventure from noodling which was a favorite past time of Hamilton’s. (Noodling is where thrill seekers stick their hand into a watery crevice with the hopes a catfish will lock onto their arm. Yes, hard to believe but true.) But Sheriff Rhodes learns through the autopsy that Hamilton was murdered, and the whole county, practically, could be suspects including the rogue archer. Main reason for Hamilton’s contemptible status is that he owned a factory farm with thousands of chickens that are not only a noise disturbance to the residents living in close proximity but there are legitimate concerns over animal cruelty and air pollution.
Pressure on the police department intensifies when a second homicide occurs. Hal Gillis, the man who had found Hamilton’s immersed corpse, had been a prime suspect. But, rest assured, Sheriff Dan has plenty of other suspects to choose from, and, later, finds himself and a passenger pinned down in his cruiser by Robin Hood, notching up suspicions against that loco. Sheriff Rhodes reaches for his shotgun—probably wishing he had that machine gun—and goes on the offensive.
He held the shotgun in front of him with both hands as he jogged toward the farmhouse.
The first arrow flew past him to the right, missing him by at least ten feet. It didn’t miss the Charger, however. Rhodes heard it going into the side of the car. He thought he heard a muffled scream, but that was probably just his imagination.
Crider’s laid back dialogue will leave the reader chuckling along as Sheriff Dan wades through the various characters in this small town. When Hack breaks the initial news to Sheriff Rhodes about Lester Hamilton’s passing, he can’t contain himself, “That’s right,” Hack said. “Dead. No Less, no more.” And that phrase is repeated not once but twice more to the ongoing dismay of Sheriff Rhodes.
Murder in the Air is a top mystery. If you haven't read these books, well, here's a damn good place to begin.
February 16, 2013
#17 in the Dan Rhodes series. Dan Rhodes is the sheriff of rural Blacklin County, TX. As he ambles through the current mystery (he believes in interviews rather than forensic detection) he is accompanied by an intriguing supporting cast: down-to-earth wife Ivy; the Abbott & Costello team of Hack and Lawton, his dispatcher and jailer; deputies competent Ruth Grady and prudish Buddy; and Community College math instructor, C.P. "Seepy" Benton.
Dan Rhodes series - There’s a big stink in Blacklin County, and everyone seems to think Sheriff Dan Rhodes should do something about it. The smell is coming from the giant chicken farm owned by Lester Hamilton. Rhodes sees this as a matter for the state’s air-quality enforcement agency, not the county sheriff. That all changes, however, when Hamilton is found dead, floating in an old rock pit not far from the town of Clearview. Hamilton had probably been engaged in the act of noodling for catfish, which is not only highly dangerous but illegal in Texas. Rhodes suspects that Hamilton didn’t die by accident, though. There are plenty of suspects, including an eccentric community college professor and one of his colleagues, who lives near the chicken farm and has to wear a respirator mask to ward off the smell. Also, someone known in the county as Robin Hood is going around shooting arrows into utility poles as a protest. When semi-nude protestors arrive at the chicken farm, things really begin to get out of hand.
Dan Rhodes series - There’s a big stink in Blacklin County, and everyone seems to think Sheriff Dan Rhodes should do something about it. The smell is coming from the giant chicken farm owned by Lester Hamilton. Rhodes sees this as a matter for the state’s air-quality enforcement agency, not the county sheriff. That all changes, however, when Hamilton is found dead, floating in an old rock pit not far from the town of Clearview. Hamilton had probably been engaged in the act of noodling for catfish, which is not only highly dangerous but illegal in Texas. Rhodes suspects that Hamilton didn’t die by accident, though. There are plenty of suspects, including an eccentric community college professor and one of his colleagues, who lives near the chicken farm and has to wear a respirator mask to ward off the smell. Also, someone known in the county as Robin Hood is going around shooting arrows into utility poles as a protest. When semi-nude protestors arrive at the chicken farm, things really begin to get out of hand.
July 25, 2014
The Sheriff Dan Rhodes mysteries are all low-key, slow-paced and "safe for the whole family" as a "Christian" music radio station likes to call itself. They are all set in rural Blacklin County, Texas, and they are all excellent. In this one, the air has nothing to do with flying. It's about the objections of the residents of Mount Industry, Texas, to the stench emanating from a chicken farm. As you might guess, tempers flare and murder is committed. But was it really about the factory farming pollution ... or something else? Dan Rhodes and his miniscule force of deputies have to figure it out, with very few clues to go on. Excellent, as I said.
August 22, 2024
I’ve dipped in and out of this series over the years with no concern about the order in which I read the books. These are self-contained enough that you can read them individually without worrying about events in previous books.
Lester Hamilton doesn’t have many friends. Maybe one preacher in town is the only friend he has. So, when it looks like someone drowned him, folks in Blacklin weren’t too put out about it. He operated a huge chicken farm whose air pollution was without parallel. Sheriff Rhodes dealt with many a complaint about the stink, but he could do nothing about it.
It looks like Lester went for a swim to cool off on a hot summer day. The marks they subsequently found on his wrist indicate that someone held him in the water until he drowned. It’s up to Sheriff Rhodes to figure out who did it.
Before this ends, another local resident will die, and Rhodes must determine whether the deaths link somehow.
The characters are mildly funny, and Rhodes is a likable enough character that you’ll pick up another of these books someday. But at least you don’t have to read them in order.
Lester Hamilton doesn’t have many friends. Maybe one preacher in town is the only friend he has. So, when it looks like someone drowned him, folks in Blacklin weren’t too put out about it. He operated a huge chicken farm whose air pollution was without parallel. Sheriff Rhodes dealt with many a complaint about the stink, but he could do nothing about it.
It looks like Lester went for a swim to cool off on a hot summer day. The marks they subsequently found on his wrist indicate that someone held him in the water until he drowned. It’s up to Sheriff Rhodes to figure out who did it.
Before this ends, another local resident will die, and Rhodes must determine whether the deaths link somehow.
The characters are mildly funny, and Rhodes is a likable enough character that you’ll pick up another of these books someday. But at least you don’t have to read them in order.
May 22, 2025
If you were to strip away the skeleton from the 'Sheriff Dan Rhodes' books you wouldn't have more than a series of novellas.
The 'skeleton' consists of Dan's dietary preferences (Dr. Pepper and anything greasy), Ivy's attempts to get him on a healthy diet, Hank and Lawton playing word games, playing with his two dogs, being allergic to his cat, and so on.
It's repetitious on a grand scale.
But, in each book, there is also a murder or two to be solved. The two are always linked and Dan is always baffled until everything finally gels in Dan's mind.
“Murder in the Air” concerns the stench coming from a huge chicken far owned by Lester Hamilton.
The community is furious but no laws are being broken.
When Lester is found murdered no-one is particularly broken up, but Dan investigates as thoroughly as normal.
There's absolutely no shortage of suspects and, as usual, nobody wants to tell the complete truth.
Meanwhile, a mystery archer is peppering the area with arrows.
3 Stars.
The 'skeleton' consists of Dan's dietary preferences (Dr. Pepper and anything greasy), Ivy's attempts to get him on a healthy diet, Hank and Lawton playing word games, playing with his two dogs, being allergic to his cat, and so on.
It's repetitious on a grand scale.
But, in each book, there is also a murder or two to be solved. The two are always linked and Dan is always baffled until everything finally gels in Dan's mind.
“Murder in the Air” concerns the stench coming from a huge chicken far owned by Lester Hamilton.
The community is furious but no laws are being broken.
When Lester is found murdered no-one is particularly broken up, but Dan investigates as thoroughly as normal.
There's absolutely no shortage of suspects and, as usual, nobody wants to tell the complete truth.
Meanwhile, a mystery archer is peppering the area with arrows.
3 Stars.
January 12, 2018
Full disclosure. I hate chickens. I have hated chickens since my childhood duty was to gather the eggs. Our hen house dirt did not even begin to approach the dirt and stench that Lester Hamilton's chicken factory produced. However, it was enough to give me the creepy crawlies. So...the denouement in this installment of the Dan Rhodes series was one of the most horrific for me. As usual, Mr. Crider's ingenuity in creating off-beat characters and scenarios swirling around the calm Sheriff Rhodes is totally entertaining.
November 23, 2018
Country, county sheriff Dan Rhodes again was multiple problems to solve in another "cozy mystery" which was a quick, easy, fun read. A giant chicken farm polluting the air and causing many reactions and the owner's body floating in an old rock pit are the main focus. There were the usual eccentric characters and plenty of suspects.
May 4, 2022
Murder In the Air – A Dan Rhodes Mystery – 2010 - ***1/2 - Dan Rhodes has to deal with the stench and other problems associated with a chicken farm in this murder mystery. This is an easy to read, fun, entertaining book made for a slow relaxed afternoon’s reading. The book doesn’t pretend to be something it is not – serious. Taken at face value, Crider does a good job in his usual relaxed way.
July 23, 2019
Earlier book in series from the first few I read. All well paced, god characterizations, nice humor and the search for the criminals is well plotted and scripted. One of the better low keyed mystery series.
October 13, 2017
Having lived around chickens as a kid, I can really appreciate the problems in this one.
August 5, 2019
This is the first book I’ve read in the series. It started a little slowly but got better. I may go back and start the series from the beginning sometime.
January 27, 2020
Another fun, entertaining Dan Rhodes mystery.
It's bitter sweet reading them now, knowing author Bill Crider has passed away....
It's bitter sweet reading them now, knowing author Bill Crider has passed away....
June 11, 2022
I really enjoy this series, especially the running jokes and the pets!
December 15, 2022
Just ok. Had trouble keeping all the characters straight!
June 14, 2019
This is the 17th book in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes murder series. As usual, it is full of wry wit and zany secondary characters. Rhodes loves to shoot down the idea that crimes are solved by CSI and proves it each time by figuring things out on his own.
There's always someone wanting to update Blacklin County's law enforcement. This time a commissioner wants to get an AK-whatever to bring down any terrorists that sneak into town. Of course, Rhodes is having none of it.
But what he is having is a stinking bad time with the stench coming from the chicken farm; everyone is complaining. When its owner is found dead, Rhodes has to find the culprit. To add a bit of whimsey to the mix, someone is shooting arrows around and leaving some foul/fowl statements behind.
These stories grow on a person; I wasn't particularly impressed with my first book (A Romantic Way to Die). Now I look for these stories. This one is a talking-book from the library and George Guidell's voice was perfect for this 'down-home' mystery.
There's always someone wanting to update Blacklin County's law enforcement. This time a commissioner wants to get an AK-whatever to bring down any terrorists that sneak into town. Of course, Rhodes is having none of it.
But what he is having is a stinking bad time with the stench coming from the chicken farm; everyone is complaining. When its owner is found dead, Rhodes has to find the culprit. To add a bit of whimsey to the mix, someone is shooting arrows around and leaving some foul/fowl statements behind.
These stories grow on a person; I wasn't particularly impressed with my first book (A Romantic Way to Die). Now I look for these stories. This one is a talking-book from the library and George Guidell's voice was perfect for this 'down-home' mystery.
March 1, 2011
Dan Rhodes is a laconic Texas lawman out to solve the drowning murder of a factory-farming chicken rancher whose operation has polluted the air for miles around. Not surprisingly, there are a lot of suspects.
Rhodes is an interesting character choice. Since he is droll and lacking in affect, keeping the reader interested in him is a full-time job. For the most part, author Bill Crider is a pro who is up to the task. He surrounds Rhodes with a cast of colorful people and animals and keeps the plot moving.
There were a few times I felt if Rhodes had only asked one or two (somewhat) obvious questions, the book would have been a lot shorter:) But, all in all, it was a good -- not a great -- read.
Rhodes is an interesting character choice. Since he is droll and lacking in affect, keeping the reader interested in him is a full-time job. For the most part, author Bill Crider is a pro who is up to the task. He surrounds Rhodes with a cast of colorful people and animals and keeps the plot moving.
There were a few times I felt if Rhodes had only asked one or two (somewhat) obvious questions, the book would have been a lot shorter:) But, all in all, it was a good -- not a great -- read.
December 11, 2013
When Lester Hamilton, owner of the local chicken factory farm, is found dead in the pond, people assume is drowned while illegally noodling for catfish. That would have been the preferred end. Unfortunately, he was murdered and the list of suspects is practically endless as no one liked the man. This is the first Dan Rhodes book I have read. George Guidall reads and he could make an owners manual sound exciting. But while he made the story mildly amusing it wasn't a compelling story and neither were the characters. It's hard to root for a character as dislikable as Lester but if the point of the story was to make factory farming unappealing, that worked. I don't know if I would rush to read others in the series.
March 3, 2015
This was my first Sheriff Rhodes mystery and I had a good time reading it. Life in a small town is so different then in a large city and I love when an author can capture the eccentric characters that seem be the spice of country life. Bill Crider does an excellent job of this. The mystery itself was also well written. Suspects are introduced, eliminated and reintroduced enough to keep you guessing. I'll absolutely be revisiting Blacklin County, Texas again soon.
February 24, 2013
Lots to like here with a downhome, straight-shooting sheriff, quirky secondary characters, strong sense of place, and George Guidall reading. Somehow it failed to capture my imagination and enthusiasm. Laid back and affable hero, rather gentle story, series characters, humor, witty dialogue, and a good mystery. Should work for Craig Johnson fans too--although I prefer those.
Read
July 29, 2016I love reading Bill Crider's books, especially the Dan Rhodes books that are set in a town much like Crider's home town of Mexia, Texas which is about 10 miles from my home town. The people in the books are very familiar. There is also quit a bit of humor in Crider's books. I plan to read as many of his books that I can find.
August 18, 2010
He's done better. Not too interesting.
February 21, 2011
I love these mysteries. They're fun and short. I can't believe this was number 17 in the series.
February 4, 2016
Another easy going visit with Sheriff Rhodes. Good read if not as exciting as some big city mysteries.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews