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Sheriff Dan Rhodes #24
Dead, to Begin With
Sheriff Dan Rhodes is back again in Bill Crider's thrilling Dead, to Begin With.
In Clearview, Texas, a wealthy recluse has joined the community and is leading the restoration of an old opera house. When he falls to his death, Sheriff Dan Rhodes suspects that he's been murdered, but there doesn't seem to be a motive. Who would want to kill someone who's helping the town and hasn't been around long enough to make any enemies?
The Sheriff's suspicion proves to be true, however, and he begins to look for motives buried in the past, meanwhile having to deal with people fighting over baseball cards at a yard sale, writers who want to talk to him about his sex life, and the Clearview Ghost Hunters, headed up by Seepy Benton, who believes that the old theater is haunted. Clearview might be a small town, but there's no shortage of excitement.
In Clearview, Texas, a wealthy recluse has joined the community and is leading the restoration of an old opera house. When he falls to his death, Sheriff Dan Rhodes suspects that he's been murdered, but there doesn't seem to be a motive. Who would want to kill someone who's helping the town and hasn't been around long enough to make any enemies?
The Sheriff's suspicion proves to be true, however, and he begins to look for motives buried in the past, meanwhile having to deal with people fighting over baseball cards at a yard sale, writers who want to talk to him about his sex life, and the Clearview Ghost Hunters, headed up by Seepy Benton, who believes that the old theater is haunted. Clearview might be a small town, but there's no shortage of excitement.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
381 pages, Library Binding
First published August 8, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 1, 2018
Dead,to Begin With by Bill Crider is a 2017 Minotaur Books publication.
Jake Marley, the town recluse, falls to his death in the old movie theatre he was having restored. After many years of living in wealthy solitude, Jake had begun living his life again, mingling with the town’s residents and even bought the old movie theatre, hoping to restore it for future live performances.
Something about the way the body was found, makes Sheriff Dan Rhodes wonder if Jake’s fall was really an accident. Could Jake have been murdered? If so, why would anyone want to kill Jake, a man most people barely even knew?
I am a late comer to this series, having stumbled across it a few years ago, quite by accident. I remember feeling cheated because it took me so long to discover it.
For the life of me, I don’t know how I missed it, since I am partial to Texas authors and Texas settings. But, better late than never! (I have a long, rambling personal story I’ll share at the end of this review about Bill and his penchant for Dr. Pepper, which endeared me to him all the more)
This series is so funny, and the mysteries are always compelling and imaginative. The characters are quirky, with witty dialogue, which always paints a sly portrait of human nature, combined within a charming, cozy, small town atmosphere.
As always, the mystery is very puzzling, as the victim was virtually a stranger within the community making it difficult for Dan to settle on a motive, until he learns the victim had a sister who died in a mysterious one vehicle crash many years ago. Could there be a connection?
Meanwhile, the ghost hunters are still out in full force, convinced the old theatre is haunted, while Dan does his level best to convince himself he doesn’t believe in ghosts.
The play Jake was planning on sponsoring, once the theatre was fully restored, was ‘A Christmas Carol’, which made for a few thought provoking comparisons between the ghost ‘Jacob Marley’ and Jake Marley, the murder victim. Weaving the Dickens tale around the mystery and the suspects was quite clever and very well done.
I was also thankful that Dan finally gave in and succumbed to his Dr. Pepper urges, and rediscovered his enjoyment of it, even though it wasn’t made with pure cane sugar.
You can’t go wrong with small town mysteries combined with small town secrets- which are always the most enlightening.
This is yet another very well written, laugh out loud funny, immensely entertaining Dan Rhodes mystery!!
*Personal note:
As I said, I only discovered this series a few years ago, and no, I haven’t gotten around to reading all the installments, although I do want to someday. After I read one of Bill’s Dan Rhodes mysteries,, I was so surprised to see that Dan was a huge fan of Dublin Dr. Pepper. For those not from Texas, who are not aware of the lore surrounding the infamous Dublin Dr. Pepper, it was the oldest Dr. Pepper bottling company, located in a very small town, eleven miles down the road from me. They bottled Dr. Pepper made with pure cane sugar, using a special secret recipe. It was so wildly popular people drove from all over to tour the bottling plant, and would ‘bootleg’ entire cases of it to take back home with them.
As, it so happens, when my son was in high school, he worked for the bottling company, which only had about ten employees. He loved his job, and the people he worked with were like family. Unfortunately, there was a big war between the small town independent bottler and the big, bad corporate Dr. Pepper Company who wanted to buy them out. Most people never really knew the whole story, but at the end of the day, the plant closed, and my son lost his job- (although he was one of the only employees who has continued to work for Dr. Pepper/Snapple, and has moved up the ladder while putting himself through college.)
Still, it was hilarious when I saw that Dan was boycotting Dr. Pepper because they closed the Dublin plant. I secretly cheered him on, understanding his outrage over the corporate bullying.
In the meantime, I hopped over to Bill’s Facebook page, hoping to keep apprised of all his book releases and what not. I ended up following his posts religiously, especially after he adopted three abandoned kittens, he dubbed the VBK’s – Very Bad Kitties. He posted pictures of them almost daily, so his friends, family and fans were able to watch them grow up. When Bill announced he had cancer, those sweet angels were obviously a great comfort to him and brightened his days, as they did mine.
Sadly, we got the news a few weeks back that Bill has gone into hospice care. His VBK’s are with his Goddaughter now, who has started a FB page just for the kitties, so we will be able to follow them on to their next adventure.
I don’t know if there are any unpublished Dan Rhodes mysteries yet to be released, or if someone will pick this series up at some point, but as far as I can tell, this very well could be the last book in the series. I am glad I found this series, found Bill’s Facebook page, and met his sweet kitties, and felt like I had a personal connection to him and his novels. I do have a nice pile of backlist titles in the series to read, which will be a bittersweet treat, and I will savor every single one of them.
Bill seems like such a nice, down to earth guy. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time, and although I know Bill won’t see this review, I do want to thank him for creating these wonderful characters and for the hours of entertainment he’s given so many people over the years.
Jake Marley, the town recluse, falls to his death in the old movie theatre he was having restored. After many years of living in wealthy solitude, Jake had begun living his life again, mingling with the town’s residents and even bought the old movie theatre, hoping to restore it for future live performances.
Something about the way the body was found, makes Sheriff Dan Rhodes wonder if Jake’s fall was really an accident. Could Jake have been murdered? If so, why would anyone want to kill Jake, a man most people barely even knew?
I am a late comer to this series, having stumbled across it a few years ago, quite by accident. I remember feeling cheated because it took me so long to discover it.
For the life of me, I don’t know how I missed it, since I am partial to Texas authors and Texas settings. But, better late than never! (I have a long, rambling personal story I’ll share at the end of this review about Bill and his penchant for Dr. Pepper, which endeared me to him all the more)
This series is so funny, and the mysteries are always compelling and imaginative. The characters are quirky, with witty dialogue, which always paints a sly portrait of human nature, combined within a charming, cozy, small town atmosphere.
As always, the mystery is very puzzling, as the victim was virtually a stranger within the community making it difficult for Dan to settle on a motive, until he learns the victim had a sister who died in a mysterious one vehicle crash many years ago. Could there be a connection?
Meanwhile, the ghost hunters are still out in full force, convinced the old theatre is haunted, while Dan does his level best to convince himself he doesn’t believe in ghosts.
The play Jake was planning on sponsoring, once the theatre was fully restored, was ‘A Christmas Carol’, which made for a few thought provoking comparisons between the ghost ‘Jacob Marley’ and Jake Marley, the murder victim. Weaving the Dickens tale around the mystery and the suspects was quite clever and very well done.
I was also thankful that Dan finally gave in and succumbed to his Dr. Pepper urges, and rediscovered his enjoyment of it, even though it wasn’t made with pure cane sugar.
You can’t go wrong with small town mysteries combined with small town secrets- which are always the most enlightening.
This is yet another very well written, laugh out loud funny, immensely entertaining Dan Rhodes mystery!!
*Personal note:
As I said, I only discovered this series a few years ago, and no, I haven’t gotten around to reading all the installments, although I do want to someday. After I read one of Bill’s Dan Rhodes mysteries,, I was so surprised to see that Dan was a huge fan of Dublin Dr. Pepper. For those not from Texas, who are not aware of the lore surrounding the infamous Dublin Dr. Pepper, it was the oldest Dr. Pepper bottling company, located in a very small town, eleven miles down the road from me. They bottled Dr. Pepper made with pure cane sugar, using a special secret recipe. It was so wildly popular people drove from all over to tour the bottling plant, and would ‘bootleg’ entire cases of it to take back home with them.
As, it so happens, when my son was in high school, he worked for the bottling company, which only had about ten employees. He loved his job, and the people he worked with were like family. Unfortunately, there was a big war between the small town independent bottler and the big, bad corporate Dr. Pepper Company who wanted to buy them out. Most people never really knew the whole story, but at the end of the day, the plant closed, and my son lost his job- (although he was one of the only employees who has continued to work for Dr. Pepper/Snapple, and has moved up the ladder while putting himself through college.)
Still, it was hilarious when I saw that Dan was boycotting Dr. Pepper because they closed the Dublin plant. I secretly cheered him on, understanding his outrage over the corporate bullying.
In the meantime, I hopped over to Bill’s Facebook page, hoping to keep apprised of all his book releases and what not. I ended up following his posts religiously, especially after he adopted three abandoned kittens, he dubbed the VBK’s – Very Bad Kitties. He posted pictures of them almost daily, so his friends, family and fans were able to watch them grow up. When Bill announced he had cancer, those sweet angels were obviously a great comfort to him and brightened his days, as they did mine.
Sadly, we got the news a few weeks back that Bill has gone into hospice care. His VBK’s are with his Goddaughter now, who has started a FB page just for the kitties, so we will be able to follow them on to their next adventure.
I don’t know if there are any unpublished Dan Rhodes mysteries yet to be released, or if someone will pick this series up at some point, but as far as I can tell, this very well could be the last book in the series. I am glad I found this series, found Bill’s Facebook page, and met his sweet kitties, and felt like I had a personal connection to him and his novels. I do have a nice pile of backlist titles in the series to read, which will be a bittersweet treat, and I will savor every single one of them.
Bill seems like such a nice, down to earth guy. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time, and although I know Bill won’t see this review, I do want to thank him for creating these wonderful characters and for the hours of entertainment he’s given so many people over the years.
August 31, 2017
The sheriff of Blacklin County, Texas is Dan Rhodes. When the phone rings in the sheriff’s office Rhodes knows there is trouble in the town of Clearview. “What kind of trouble?” Rhodes asked. “Jake Marley’s dead,” Hack replies. Hack is the dispatcher in the sheriff’s office, although he often thinks he is out of the loop (so he says regarding sheriff Rhodes activities). And off we go in this installment titled “Dead to Begin With” by Bill Crider.
It just so happens Jake Marley, a reclusive millionaire, has recently purchased the town’s old rundown movie house and is converting the building into a playhouse. His first planned production is to be “A Christmas Carol”.
The book is Laugh Out Loud hilarious as Rhodes must wade through the towns eccentric, yet mostly likeable characters, to figure out exactly what happened. Meanwhile a couple of lady novelists want to interview Rhodes about his sex life.
These books are highly enjoyable, the characters are engaging, and like Pringles, you just can’t read one. Highly Recommended.
It just so happens Jake Marley, a reclusive millionaire, has recently purchased the town’s old rundown movie house and is converting the building into a playhouse. His first planned production is to be “A Christmas Carol”.
The book is Laugh Out Loud hilarious as Rhodes must wade through the towns eccentric, yet mostly likeable characters, to figure out exactly what happened. Meanwhile a couple of lady novelists want to interview Rhodes about his sex life.
These books are highly enjoyable, the characters are engaging, and like Pringles, you just can’t read one. Highly Recommended.
August 12, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
DEAD, TO BEGIN WITH is the 24th book in the ‘Sheriff Dan Rhodes’ series, and opens with Dan being called out on a disturbance involving a local woman off her meds wielding an eight-pound sledgehammer, who is on her way to the beauty salon to get revenge for what she feels is a bad haircut.
Before leaving the scene, he receives a radio call informing him that Jake Marley, the local rich and reclusive man who’s recently resurfaced to restore the local opera house for a Texas adaptation of ‘A Christmas Carol’, has been found dead at the opera house from an apparent fall from the rafters.
Soon thereafter Rhodes is investigating the death as a potential homicide after receiving the ME report, and as expected there turns out to be several possible suspects.
Questions arise as to why Marley came out of seclusion to buy the opera house and put on the production, but no one seems to be willing or able to provide an answer.
Rhodes begins to consider the possibility that the murder might be connected to the death of Jake’s older sister several years ago, and her friends from that time period become potential suspects, even as they are older citizens of the small town and much time has passed since their reported wild youth.
Several hilarious exchanges take place between Rhodes and his staff, as well as many of the locals, and combined with the well written mystery, this book is a relaxed paced yet thoroughly enjoyable read, and after reading this along with the recommendations of my Goodreads friends Karl and Still, I’m planning to go to the beginning of the series and start with Too Late to Die.
5 stars.
DEAD, TO BEGIN WITH is the 24th book in the ‘Sheriff Dan Rhodes’ series, and opens with Dan being called out on a disturbance involving a local woman off her meds wielding an eight-pound sledgehammer, who is on her way to the beauty salon to get revenge for what she feels is a bad haircut.
Before leaving the scene, he receives a radio call informing him that Jake Marley, the local rich and reclusive man who’s recently resurfaced to restore the local opera house for a Texas adaptation of ‘A Christmas Carol’, has been found dead at the opera house from an apparent fall from the rafters.
Soon thereafter Rhodes is investigating the death as a potential homicide after receiving the ME report, and as expected there turns out to be several possible suspects.
Questions arise as to why Marley came out of seclusion to buy the opera house and put on the production, but no one seems to be willing or able to provide an answer.
Rhodes begins to consider the possibility that the murder might be connected to the death of Jake’s older sister several years ago, and her friends from that time period become potential suspects, even as they are older citizens of the small town and much time has passed since their reported wild youth.
Several hilarious exchanges take place between Rhodes and his staff, as well as many of the locals, and combined with the well written mystery, this book is a relaxed paced yet thoroughly enjoyable read, and after reading this along with the recommendations of my Goodreads friends Karl and Still, I’m planning to go to the beginning of the series and start with Too Late to Die.
5 stars.
February 18, 2018
If you love Bill Crider's mysteries, and I do, I can pretty much guarantee you will love this brand new book. It's filled with characters I feel like I know, characters that make up small Texas towns. The mystery is light and the dialogue is fun. I'm so glad it was published in time for me to read it this summer.
September 2, 2017
In the small town of Clearview Texas, Sheriff Dan Rhodes has a new mystery on his hands. The wealthiest man in town dies in the old opera house he is having renovated. Dan must determine if his death was an accident or murder. Plus, he has to handle all the small incidents that happen in the town.
If you like scenes and dialogue that are sometimes laugh out loud, you will like this book. Most of the time, Dan is straight man to the Abbott and Costello folks in his office. He's very good at his job. I like the way the author plays up rural attributes like the beauty parlor, Dairy Queen and Walmart. In this series, I think the characters are more appealing to me than the mystery.
If you like scenes and dialogue that are sometimes laugh out loud, you will like this book. Most of the time, Dan is straight man to the Abbott and Costello folks in his office. He's very good at his job. I like the way the author plays up rural attributes like the beauty parlor, Dairy Queen and Walmart. In this series, I think the characters are more appealing to me than the mystery.
August 22, 2017
Another great book in the Dan Rhodes series by Bill Crider.
Sheriff Rhodes has his hands full doing his day to day job, but every year, there's a murder for him to solve in Blacklin County. This time the victim is an old man, who spent most of his life just living in his house like Boo Radley. Now in his sixties, the man wanted to revive a local theatre, and put on a play. He winds up dead. Is it an accident...or murder?
Sheriff Rhodes has seen enough murders to know one when he sees it. He begins investigating, but the day to day toll of his job keeps getting in the way.
Bill Crider should be a much more renowned writer. Twenty-Four books, and not a clunker in the series.
Sheriff Rhodes has his hands full doing his day to day job, but every year, there's a murder for him to solve in Blacklin County. This time the victim is an old man, who spent most of his life just living in his house like Boo Radley. Now in his sixties, the man wanted to revive a local theatre, and put on a play. He winds up dead. Is it an accident...or murder?
Sheriff Rhodes has seen enough murders to know one when he sees it. He begins investigating, but the day to day toll of his job keeps getting in the way.
Bill Crider should be a much more renowned writer. Twenty-Four books, and not a clunker in the series.
September 26, 2017
After a problem at the nearby beauty shop resolved, Sheriff Dan Rhodes learns of a far more serious problem as Dead, To Begin With begins. Jake Marley has been found dead on the stage at the Clearview Opera House. The building dates back to the oil boom days in the early 1900s and, like the rest of the former bustling downtown area, has seen hard times and disrepair. That was going to change thanks to Jake Marley.
Grandson of one of the local men that had gotten very rich during the oil boom all those decades ago, Jake Marley suddenly took an interest in the Clearview Opera House. Known as an eccentric recluse for years, he lived a life of isolation until he suddenly bought the place and started renovations. Suddenly, he was active in the community and that was a good thing, as his money would really help the town of Clearview and the surrounding area. Nobody wanted to ask him about his reasons or his plans as just about everybody was afraid he would change his mind and take his money away. All anyone has known these past few weeks is that he planned to restore the opera house to its full glory and establish some kind of community theater. The theater’s first performance was to be some sort of Texas based vision of the classic, A Christmas Carol.
What the death of Jake Marley means for the local economy is one thing and not something that Sheriff Rhodes can do anything about at all. Mr. Marley is very much dead and Sheriff Rhodes can’t change that either. What concerns Sheriff Rhodes is the fact that there are some signs that Mr. Marley had some help shuffling off this mortal coil.
Found by real estate agent Aubrey Hamilton, who had been summoned to a meeting by the deceased, she doesn’t know what happened or why he wanted her to come by this morning. She assumed it was a real estate issue of some type considering the nature of their business relationship. While the Sheriff has heard rumors about Jake and Aubrey, she denies all of it. According to her, beyond the age difference between the two of them that would be a huge hindrance, they were not even friends, and only had a business relationship.
Maybe he did just fall from the overhead grid deck above the stage. That obviously could have happened. However, if he did that, it would not explain every detail of the scene. Seepy Benton may believe the theater is haunted, but Rhodes does not think supernatural forces were involved either. Sheriff Rhodes has plenty of questions as his investigation begins in Dead, To Begin With.
The latest in the long running series featuring Sheriff Dan Rhodes and a host of characters is another good one. As usual, the secondary characters, the humor, the observations of small town life in Texas, are just part of an overarching mystery. Dead, To Begin With first and foremost is another solidly good mystery filled with plenty of misdirection, intrigue, and a few clues. Another very good read by Bill Crider who simply can’t write a weak book. If it isn’t already clear, Dead, To Begin With is a highly recommended read.
Dead, To Begin With: A Dan Rhodes Mystery
Bill Crider
http://www.billcrider.com
A Thomas Dunne Book (Minotaur Books)
http://www.thomasdunnebooks.com
August 8, 2015
ISBN #978-1250078537
Hardback (also available in e-book form)
272 Pages
$25.99
ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2017
Grandson of one of the local men that had gotten very rich during the oil boom all those decades ago, Jake Marley suddenly took an interest in the Clearview Opera House. Known as an eccentric recluse for years, he lived a life of isolation until he suddenly bought the place and started renovations. Suddenly, he was active in the community and that was a good thing, as his money would really help the town of Clearview and the surrounding area. Nobody wanted to ask him about his reasons or his plans as just about everybody was afraid he would change his mind and take his money away. All anyone has known these past few weeks is that he planned to restore the opera house to its full glory and establish some kind of community theater. The theater’s first performance was to be some sort of Texas based vision of the classic, A Christmas Carol.
What the death of Jake Marley means for the local economy is one thing and not something that Sheriff Rhodes can do anything about at all. Mr. Marley is very much dead and Sheriff Rhodes can’t change that either. What concerns Sheriff Rhodes is the fact that there are some signs that Mr. Marley had some help shuffling off this mortal coil.
Found by real estate agent Aubrey Hamilton, who had been summoned to a meeting by the deceased, she doesn’t know what happened or why he wanted her to come by this morning. She assumed it was a real estate issue of some type considering the nature of their business relationship. While the Sheriff has heard rumors about Jake and Aubrey, she denies all of it. According to her, beyond the age difference between the two of them that would be a huge hindrance, they were not even friends, and only had a business relationship.
Maybe he did just fall from the overhead grid deck above the stage. That obviously could have happened. However, if he did that, it would not explain every detail of the scene. Seepy Benton may believe the theater is haunted, but Rhodes does not think supernatural forces were involved either. Sheriff Rhodes has plenty of questions as his investigation begins in Dead, To Begin With.
The latest in the long running series featuring Sheriff Dan Rhodes and a host of characters is another good one. As usual, the secondary characters, the humor, the observations of small town life in Texas, are just part of an overarching mystery. Dead, To Begin With first and foremost is another solidly good mystery filled with plenty of misdirection, intrigue, and a few clues. Another very good read by Bill Crider who simply can’t write a weak book. If it isn’t already clear, Dead, To Begin With is a highly recommended read.
Dead, To Begin With: A Dan Rhodes Mystery
Bill Crider
http://www.billcrider.com
A Thomas Dunne Book (Minotaur Books)
http://www.thomasdunnebooks.com
August 8, 2015
ISBN #978-1250078537
Hardback (also available in e-book form)
272 Pages
$25.99
ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2017
August 28, 2017
Jake Marley, a wealthy recluse, comes out of his self-imposed hiding to renovate the town’s old opera house, but falls to his death from the theater rafters high above the stage before he can accomplish his goal. Was it an accident, suicide, or murder? Sheriff Dan Rhodes is tasked with solving the case and investigates with his usual small-town panache. To do so, he must deal with decades old secrets among class mates, ghostly spirits, romance writers, and the usual eccentric cast of Clearview characters. The references to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol make the story all the more intricate and entertaining - as well as a great holiday gift idea!
August 10, 2017
Princess Fuzzypants here:
Bill Crider is a funny guy. I have read a number of his cat inspired short stories and enjoyed them immensely. This is the first full length novel I have read and I am planning to read more. I realize this is a long running series but I had no problem getting right into the book so do not let it stop you if you haven't read his books before.
Sheriff Rhodes is a laconic lawman who is surrounded by goofy assistants, an adoring public thanks to a local website that seems to catch him at his most heroic, a patient wife and a penchant for foods that are far from healthy. He is also a very good cop. When a local hermit turned philanthropist falls from the catwalk of a theatre he is refurbishing, Dan must decide if it is accidental or murder. The man's will and his autopsy indicated it is nothing short of murder. But who would want him dead and why? The investigation leads Dan to uncover a tragic death decades earlier. Is that the motive? I am not going to tell. You will just have to read the book- which is what I recommend.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.
Bill Crider is a funny guy. I have read a number of his cat inspired short stories and enjoyed them immensely. This is the first full length novel I have read and I am planning to read more. I realize this is a long running series but I had no problem getting right into the book so do not let it stop you if you haven't read his books before.
Sheriff Rhodes is a laconic lawman who is surrounded by goofy assistants, an adoring public thanks to a local website that seems to catch him at his most heroic, a patient wife and a penchant for foods that are far from healthy. He is also a very good cop. When a local hermit turned philanthropist falls from the catwalk of a theatre he is refurbishing, Dan must decide if it is accidental or murder. The man's will and his autopsy indicated it is nothing short of murder. But who would want him dead and why? The investigation leads Dan to uncover a tragic death decades earlier. Is that the motive? I am not going to tell. You will just have to read the book- which is what I recommend.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.
October 22, 2017
Not his best, but enjoyable.
December 12, 2017
What a great read! Mr. Crider hits another home run with this one.
September 4, 2017
Dead, To Begin With by Bill Crider deserves an award.
From the opening to the introduction of the wealthy recluse Jake Marley, to the Christmas play being written (get the connection? Marley…Christmas) to the picturesque, small Texas town, to the believable Sheriff Dan Rhodes and supporting characters, reading this cozy mystery was like slipping into comfortable clothes…I wanted to keep them on and I wanted to keep reading even when I finished the last sentence.
The pacing is even…I didn’t feel like it or the characters hurried me along, nor was it so slow I could set the book aside. It allowed me to enjoy Clearview, Texas and get to know something about every person to whom I was introduced.
I enjoyed the quirkiness and the humor Crider inserted in the story and how it helped create three-dimensional characters. I didn’t before, but as I read, I wanted to know them and by the time I was half-way through, I felt like I did.
For example, Hack and his going around the barn before Dan drags out of Hack what he should have said to begin with (from the beginning of the book):
“Hack Jensen, the dispatcher, answered the call. For a few seconds he listened. Then he said, “You sure about where she’s headed?”
Rhodes put down the report he’d been reading, something about a burglary at a house on one of the county roads.
“I’ll tell the sheriff,” Hack said. “He’s right here. Don’t worry, Harvey. He’ll stop her.” Hack ended the call and turned to Rhodes. “Elaine Tunstall’s off her meds again.”
“Uh-oh,” Rhodes said, taking off his reading glasses and putting them in his pocket.
“Harvey said he thought she’d been takin’ ’em, but she’s good about pretendin’. She musta got to feelin’ so good that she figgered she didn’t need ’em. You know how it goes.”
Rhodes knew how it went. “I’m just guessing here, but I have a feeling the meds aren’t the problem Harvey called about.”
“Nope. What he called about is a bad haircut.”
The challenge for Sheriff Dan Rhodes begins when he learns Jake Marley’s dead (in the opera house he recently purchased and was fixing up for the play he wanted written and performed).
This is only my second Dan Rhodes mystery, but I’m hooked and, by gum, I’m gonna buy me more so I can be a voyeur into the lives of these people…errr, I mean characters.
This is one of those authors I willingly recommend to everyone who enjoys cozy mysteries…heck, just about any type of mystery.
From the opening to the introduction of the wealthy recluse Jake Marley, to the Christmas play being written (get the connection? Marley…Christmas) to the picturesque, small Texas town, to the believable Sheriff Dan Rhodes and supporting characters, reading this cozy mystery was like slipping into comfortable clothes…I wanted to keep them on and I wanted to keep reading even when I finished the last sentence.
The pacing is even…I didn’t feel like it or the characters hurried me along, nor was it so slow I could set the book aside. It allowed me to enjoy Clearview, Texas and get to know something about every person to whom I was introduced.
I enjoyed the quirkiness and the humor Crider inserted in the story and how it helped create three-dimensional characters. I didn’t before, but as I read, I wanted to know them and by the time I was half-way through, I felt like I did.
For example, Hack and his going around the barn before Dan drags out of Hack what he should have said to begin with (from the beginning of the book):
“Hack Jensen, the dispatcher, answered the call. For a few seconds he listened. Then he said, “You sure about where she’s headed?”
Rhodes put down the report he’d been reading, something about a burglary at a house on one of the county roads.
“I’ll tell the sheriff,” Hack said. “He’s right here. Don’t worry, Harvey. He’ll stop her.” Hack ended the call and turned to Rhodes. “Elaine Tunstall’s off her meds again.”
“Uh-oh,” Rhodes said, taking off his reading glasses and putting them in his pocket.
“Harvey said he thought she’d been takin’ ’em, but she’s good about pretendin’. She musta got to feelin’ so good that she figgered she didn’t need ’em. You know how it goes.”
Rhodes knew how it went. “I’m just guessing here, but I have a feeling the meds aren’t the problem Harvey called about.”
“Nope. What he called about is a bad haircut.”
The challenge for Sheriff Dan Rhodes begins when he learns Jake Marley’s dead (in the opera house he recently purchased and was fixing up for the play he wanted written and performed).
This is only my second Dan Rhodes mystery, but I’m hooked and, by gum, I’m gonna buy me more so I can be a voyeur into the lives of these people…errr, I mean characters.
This is one of those authors I willingly recommend to everyone who enjoys cozy mysteries…heck, just about any type of mystery.
July 6, 2017
Sheriff Dan Rhodes is a small town, very tactful, family friendly officer. This installment from Bill Crider is my first take with his work. I am going to try to put into words what I honestly feel. After reading this mystery I feel pleasant, and puzzled. Let me explain. The title is "Dead, to Begin With" If I were paying even more attention to the opening details; the ending makes sense. Either way when starting the book I got a good feel for how Rhodes feels about his town, and his family. I even will call his dispatcher Hack Jensen apart of the whole story arc. Will Hack ever get all the details? Also the idea of "A Christmas Carole" being "Texas-Style" led to the end being a huge twist I did not see coming. Though sometimes the Main Character can be blunt, I think that is in the translation of a Sherriff who has been around a while. I especially found humor when the "thin spot" was coming up. I also feel like this could be any small desperate to cling onto life Texas town. The book really does a good job speaking of dying small towns and how "Wal-Mart" plays a part. I would recommend this book to fellow mystery readers. It read like a brand new "first in series" I could say with confidence it deserves a solid 4.5 stars.
August 29, 2017
#24 in the Dan Rhodes series. It's always a pleasure to watch laid-back Sheriff Rhodes solve a mystery amid the distractions provided by the banter of Sheriff's Office employees Hack and Lawton, ghost hunter C.P. "Seepy" Benton, reporter Jennifer Loam, home life with wife Ivy and his dogs, and the day-to-day calls for attention by the Sheriff. The mystery isn't bad either.
Dan Rhodes series - Blacklin County, Tex., sheriff Dan Rhodes is called when reclusive Jake Marley, the 60ish scion of a wealthy oil boom-era family, takes a fatal fall onto the stage of the Clearview Opera House, a movie theater that's been closed for decades. The Clearview, which Jake bought and is restoring, is to mark its reopening with a performance of a Texas version of Dickens's A Christmas Carol. In his will, Jake, who was to play Marley's ghost, stipulates four local people to play other roles-and requires Rhodes to attend-as a condition for the theater to receive continued funding. As Rhodes delves into what he suspects is a murder case, he has to put up with a number of minor distractions, starting with the annoying banter between dispatcher Hack Jensen and jailer Lawton, who "thought of themselves as the Abbott and Costello of Blacklin County."
Dan Rhodes series - Blacklin County, Tex., sheriff Dan Rhodes is called when reclusive Jake Marley, the 60ish scion of a wealthy oil boom-era family, takes a fatal fall onto the stage of the Clearview Opera House, a movie theater that's been closed for decades. The Clearview, which Jake bought and is restoring, is to mark its reopening with a performance of a Texas version of Dickens's A Christmas Carol. In his will, Jake, who was to play Marley's ghost, stipulates four local people to play other roles-and requires Rhodes to attend-as a condition for the theater to receive continued funding. As Rhodes delves into what he suspects is a murder case, he has to put up with a number of minor distractions, starting with the annoying banter between dispatcher Hack Jensen and jailer Lawton, who "thought of themselves as the Abbott and Costello of Blacklin County."
September 2, 2017
Sheriff Dan Rhodes investigates the death of Jacob Marley-- a man whose upcoming production of A Christmas Carol indicates he feels some affinity for the Dickens character. Jake has fallen from the grid up in the fly space of the old opera house he was restoring. Did he jump? Did he fall accidentally? Or was he pushed? The answer seems to lie in the past, connected to the car crash that killed Jake’s sister when they were teenagers.
Rhodes interviews everyone concerned, in between dealing with everyday small-town crimes and dramas in his habitual calm way. He never uses a weapon if he can help it. As usual, he solves the mystery by persistent, low-key questioning and clear thinking.
Bill Crider tells the story in a plain, straightforward style that moves right along. Some of the characters speak in a mildly folksy dialect and there’s a fair sprinkling of Texas terms. An underlying good humour keeps the tone light. Crider’s regular readers will pick up on a few favourite themes and phrases that will keep a smile on their faces.
Rhodes interviews everyone concerned, in between dealing with everyday small-town crimes and dramas in his habitual calm way. He never uses a weapon if he can help it. As usual, he solves the mystery by persistent, low-key questioning and clear thinking.
Bill Crider tells the story in a plain, straightforward style that moves right along. Some of the characters speak in a mildly folksy dialect and there’s a fair sprinkling of Texas terms. An underlying good humour keeps the tone light. Crider’s regular readers will pick up on a few favourite themes and phrases that will keep a smile on their faces.
April 17, 2018
Note: The Goodreads description of Dead, to Begin With actually belongs to a DIFFERENT Dan Rhodes book, Between the Living and the Dead.
Crider is at the top of his game in Dead, to Begin With. The crazy characters that are hallmarks of any of Crider's books are all there, as well as a pretty good mystery. Dan Rhodes is the Andy Griffith of Clearview, trying to ride herd on his dispatcher and deputies, while at the same time keeping the people of Clearview not just from killing each other, but from attacking each other with sledgehammers, equipment hoists, and whatever other implements they can lay hands on.
In between, Crider makes us appreciate the small things-- a bottle of Dr. Pepper made with real sugar, sitting on the back porch and watching the dogs play, sneaking a high calorie hamburger when the health-conscious wife isn't looking.
This book is a wonderful addition to the Dan Rhodes library, and may become one of my favorites of the series!
Crider is at the top of his game in Dead, to Begin With. The crazy characters that are hallmarks of any of Crider's books are all there, as well as a pretty good mystery. Dan Rhodes is the Andy Griffith of Clearview, trying to ride herd on his dispatcher and deputies, while at the same time keeping the people of Clearview not just from killing each other, but from attacking each other with sledgehammers, equipment hoists, and whatever other implements they can lay hands on.
In between, Crider makes us appreciate the small things-- a bottle of Dr. Pepper made with real sugar, sitting on the back porch and watching the dogs play, sneaking a high calorie hamburger when the health-conscious wife isn't looking.
This book is a wonderful addition to the Dan Rhodes library, and may become one of my favorites of the series!
August 12, 2017
I lived in Texas for way too many years in a small town close to LaGrange, Texas, where "The Best Little Whorehouse" was located. Several older women we knew still talked about THAT handsome sheriff and didn't think the movie or the plays did him justice.
Those ladies would have loved Dan Rhodes and the romances Jan and Claudia wrote about Sage Barton. They would have looked Ivy over real good.
Bill Crider hits major small town high points -- beauty shop, Mexican food, Dairy Queen, Dr. Pepper, Walmart, and everybody knowing your business. There's always an opera house in the county seat.
This series is always fresh, fun, fast to read and feels like an annual visit "back home". It's better than family. Every character is memorable. The dialogue is better than life. It is a romance with a fading way of life.
Damn, I don't think 5 stars are enough.
Those ladies would have loved Dan Rhodes and the romances Jan and Claudia wrote about Sage Barton. They would have looked Ivy over real good.
Bill Crider hits major small town high points -- beauty shop, Mexican food, Dairy Queen, Dr. Pepper, Walmart, and everybody knowing your business. There's always an opera house in the county seat.
This series is always fresh, fun, fast to read and feels like an annual visit "back home". It's better than family. Every character is memorable. The dialogue is better than life. It is a romance with a fading way of life.
Damn, I don't think 5 stars are enough.
September 5, 2017
Sheriff Dan Rhodes is an internet sensation in his county, thanks to the diligent reporting of Jennifer Loam, who always seems to have her cell phone available at the most opportune times. This is just one of the bits that makes this series so entertaining. Another is the way his deputies strife to string out the telling of a story, to the point of humor to the reader, but to the annoyance of Sheriff Dan. In this book, long time local recluse Jake Marley has just been found dead in the theater he's been personally restoring. Was the motive to avoid solving the fifty year old death of Jake's sister? This is told with great humor and affection. I enjoy all of the local characters and look forward to their next escapades.
August 26, 2017
Bill Crider, with Dan Rhodes' help, once again immerses the reader in the small-town Texas world of Clearview, where the past is still alive, well, and sometimes well hidden. Reluse Jake Marley dies in a supposed accident, leaving the whole toen-and the sheriff--puzzled. Why did Marley come out of his house, after all those years, and suddenly begin to renovate the old opera house. A small group of Marley's former classmates carry a secret with them, but Rodes is hard put to get them to reveal it. As always, it's only partly the story that captured me as a reader--a lot of it is Rhodes' character, wise and subtle, and the town of Clearview. Thanks to Bill Crider for another great read.
August 28, 2017
Jake Marley was a wealthy recluse in his hometown, until he finally decided to come out of his shell and renovate the old opera house. When he's found dead on the stage, sheriff Dan Rhodes isn't quite sure it's an accident. He traces Jake's desire to be let alone to the death of his older sister when they were both in high school. Like most of the Dan Rhodes books, this is in part an elegy for the vanishing small towns of Texas, particularly, but really for the end of a particular way of life.
August 9, 2017
This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
August 16, 2017
This was my first Bill Crider - I loved it. It was low-key, witty, and altogether adorable. Dan Rhodes is a wonderful sheriff and husband, and has a lot to deal with in his small town. His dispatcher and his jailer have a running war of words, which he gets caught up in, the town internet news person, and many others make up this charming book. Crider has written many others and a lot of them are about this same town and sheriff -- hope the local library owns some of them.
September 1, 2017
This cozy mystery series is kind of addictive that after reading the first book, you connect with the relatable and quirky characters who live in a small town in Texas, and want to know what happens next. The things I like about this series: the books don’t have violence, bad language, or any sex in them and they usually have complex plots, quirky characters, terribly entertaining dialogs, and suspenseful murder mysteries with a lot of action.
September 3, 2017
An enjoyable read about sheriff Dan Rhodes. In this book he is trying to figure out why a town recluse of 50 years has suddenly coming out of his shell, buying and restoring the old town opera house and then is killed inside the opera house. His will states that the opera house has to be restored and the play a Christmas carol has to be performed with the performers he names. No one in town will admit anything and Rhodes really has a puzzle on his hands.
December 13, 2017
"County funds did not suffice to make him a well-equipped investigator, but he knew what to do with what he had..........He liked to talk to people, listen to their stories, size them up. If they had anything to hide, he could usually find it out." I enjoyed meeting Sheriff Dan Rhodes and some of the residents (quirky and otherwise) in the small Texas town of Clearview. This was #24 in a series, so I'm going back to read some earlier books, but not all are available at my library.
April 27, 2018
Really, only 3.5 stars because, at least to me, the murderer was obvious and even the gist of the motive, though not the specific details. But, as always, there's lots of humorous side plots and wacky Texas characters. Yes, the title is from A Christmas Carol, and yes, setting up a production thereof is the main plot device.
April 1, 2020
Another good Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery.
A wealthy recluse has started to come out of his shell and has plans to restore an old opera house. When he falls to his death, the Sheriff wonders if it was an accident, or murder.
I really enjoyed this one. It was good to see all the familiar characters again.
A wealthy recluse has started to come out of his shell and has plans to restore an old opera house. When he falls to his death, the Sheriff wonders if it was an accident, or murder.
I really enjoyed this one. It was good to see all the familiar characters again.
August 30, 2017
As expected, the author provides the reader with real people when he develops his characters. And the superbly crafted plot delightfully wraps around an historical literary piece as well as fifty years of local history. Even Sheriff Dan is surprised by the resolution. Highly recommended!
October 27, 2017
Another good one in the series featuring Sheriff Dan Rhodes. This time a reclusive resident begins restoring an old theater and winds up dead. His sister died years ago in an auto accident, and his high school buddies seem to be involved.
October 11, 2019
When a wealthy former recluse falls to his death in an old theater that is being remodeled, Sheriff Dan Rhodes must first determine a motive as he tries to narrow down his list of suspects. The death of the victim's sister decades previously enters into the picture.
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