Granager's feed store is an institution in Jarret Creek, although the owner is incapacitated after a stroke. His son wants to make some changes, and wGranager's feed store is an institution in Jarret Creek, although the owner is incapacitated after a stroke. His son wants to make some changes, and while the small town is a conservative place, threats and violence seem an overreaction. Things escalate to attempted arson and a dead body, but when the renovation proceeds, the workers find a long-dead body hidden in the floorboards. As though police chief Samuel Craddock isn't busy enough, he's also dealing with a new district head of the state troopers, who doesn't understand how things work, and the daughter of his lady friend, who has vanished in Mexico after being arrested for causing a traffic accident....more
Now that a body's been found in the just=read=to=open vinyl record store that Juni Jessup is running with her two sisters, is Juni's high school boyfrNow that a body's been found in the just=read=to=open vinyl record store that Juni Jessup is running with her two sisters, is Juni's high school boyfriend (bad breakup), now a police detective, going to arrest her beloved Uncle Calvin, who isn't exactly law-abiding, for murder? Obviously, it's time for Juni and her two older sisters, Maggie and Tansy, to take matters into their own hands, questioning the eccentric denizens of their Austin suburb while Juni tries to resolve her attraction to two men, one of whom is her best friend from high school. First in a series....more
Another enjoyable, well-written series entry by the talented Shames. Police chief Samuel Craddock is only mildly worried about the big annual motorcycAnother enjoyable, well-written series entry by the talented Shames. Police chief Samuel Craddock is only mildly worried about the big annual motorcycle rally at a nearby state park. He doesn't expect a local woman to be found murdered the first night of the rally. Amber was widely admired locally for taking up the slack at their convenience store after her husband was seriously injured in an accident, but Samuel's investigations show that she was leading a secret life that was less commendable. To complicate matters further, he's baby-sitting for his teenaged great niece, whose rebellious ways have exhausted her parents....more
Romaine is determined to return to Chicago, once she can get a job there that will enable the life style she achieved before losing her previous job. Romaine is determined to return to Chicago, once she can get a job there that will enable the life style she achieved before losing her previous job. She won't take the job as medical examiner in her little Texas home town, living with the loving aunt who raised her (and who runs a funeral parlor, is a Justice of the Peace, and provides herbal remedies to one and all) and exploring her attraction to a man who may be a former FBI agent. When a bridegroom dies just before the wedding, though, Romaine assumes the role of acting M.E. and finds that the football hero was murdered. Her aunt immediately plunges into detection, dragging Romaine with her, despite the presence of her visiting Chicago boyfriend, ...more
Romaine--that's Dr. Romaine to you--wants to stay in Chicago with her friends and her married boyfriend, but she's lost her job as a medical examiner Romaine--that's Dr. Romaine to you--wants to stay in Chicago with her friends and her married boyfriend, but she's lost her job as a medical examiner and temporarily moves back to east Texas, to the aging aunt who raised her in the funeral home. When they get back there, Aunt Zanne finds that there's an extra body in the cremation room, and her best friend--depressive Josephine Gail--is in the sheriff's sights for the crime. Of course the sheriff--who is also Romaine's first cousin Pogue--has never had a murder case before. Aunt Zanne tries to take the heat off her friend by claiming Pogue's mother is the most likely suspect. As Aunt Zanne drags Romaine deeper into her investigation while Pogue is at a sheriff's conference in Nevada, Romaine begins to feel more at home with her Texas roots....more
Genealogist Lucy is hired to prove that her client's ancestor was not a Civil War deserter after a national magazine disparages his reputation. Darn!-Genealogist Lucy is hired to prove that her client's ancestor was not a Civil War deserter after a national magazine disparages his reputation. Darn!--just as she was looking for some quality time with her FBI agent boyfriend, just back from a few months on an underground assignment. To make it worse, the client is a woman Lucy worked with on her former job, which was made miserable by three nasty librarians. But Lucy becomes fascinated by the assignment, especially after she meets an elderly descendant and sees the main panel of a triptych the ancestor in question created in a folk-art style, although he was a skilled draftsman. The owner of the first panel dies mysteriously, and someone is trying to steal the second panel, which her client owns. The third belongs to a branch of the family that has become alienated. Lucy is a little perky for my tastes, but Perkins gives you quite a ride nonetheless....more
Austin based genealogist Lucy Lancaster is supposed to wrap up her job for wealthy hotelier Pippa by New Year's Day, but when a dying man hands Lucy aAustin based genealogist Lucy Lancaster is supposed to wrap up her job for wealthy hotelier Pippa by New Year's Day, but when a dying man hands Lucy a rare Mont Blanc pen and whispers "Keep them safe," she knows that she has another job to do. Since her elderly grandfather is a collector of fountain pens, she asks him about the pen, and he reveals to her for the first time that he was in OSS during World War II and served with the father of the dead man, who was a spy fanboy. There's a coded list of eight names, all the descendants of people who worked on a particularly significant operation during the war, and he suspects Lucy's name is on the list, as he helped lead the operation. But after Grandpa is injured in a fishy automobile accident, Lucy is on her own in figuring out who is in danger, and from whom....more
Randy Mayhill, the former sheriff--and that word, "former," stings--has resigned himself to a hermit's life, watching over his late best friend's mothRandy Mayhill, the former sheriff--and that word, "former," stings--has resigned himself to a hermit's life, watching over his late best friend's mother and teenaged daughter. Van killed himself when Randy was unable to cover up his marijuana farm, and Randy still thinks he could have saved Van somehow. Meanwhile, Van's daughter Birdie finds a dead man on her fence, but he disappears before she and her part-time hired help Bradley can figure out what to do. She doesn't know that Bradley's other part-time job involves growing marijuana for another local man. Randy is concerned with keeping Birdie safe, but maybe he'll have to find out more about what's going on, after a year and more in seclusion. The wonderful, and surprising, last chapter had me tearing up....more
At first, police chief Samuel Craddock doesn't take it very seriously. He's known Loretta Singletary all his life--how could she just disappear? But sAt first, police chief Samuel Craddock doesn't take it very seriously. He's known Loretta Singletary all his life--how could she just disappear? But soon he realizes that she's not the only woman in the rural Texas area who's disappeared--and when the other woman is found dead, everyone realizes that something bad might have happened to Loretta. Very few people know that the long-widowed Loretta has just entered the world of internet dating in a small way. In a way, her friendship with the chief acts against her; he's too involved to keep his objectivity. Another terrific book by Shames....more
Feisty Texas genealogist Lucy Lancaster has just completed a project for a wealthy family, and confirmed their belief that one of their ancestors was Feisty Texas genealogist Lucy Lancaster has just completed a project for a wealthy family, and confirmed their belief that one of their ancestors was murdered. It's something that occurred 150 years ago--so how could it lead to another murder? Lucy finds herself at daggers drawn with a bossy FBI agent who wants her to stay out of the case, but the dead woman was a friend and mentor of Lucy's, and she thinks she has something to contribute, even after someone tries to murder her. As she traces the ancestry of three families, she finds some surprises, and a psychopath finds too much about Lucy. ...more
Bill Crider died in 2018, and his daughter writes in the dedication to this book that it will be the last Sheriff Dan Rhodes book ever. This is like lBill Crider died in 2018, and his daughter writes in the dedication to this book that it will be the last Sheriff Dan Rhodes book ever. This is like losing Crider all over again, but at least we have this book--though it wasn't one of his strongest--to enjoy. A dead man is found in the derelict school in Thurlow, but it's hard to determine who he is. Rhodes had met him at a traffic stop the day before and he'd given one name, but he gave another (Bruce Wayne? Really?) to the school's unofficial caretaker. Three local families are feuding over the future of the school building. Rhodes ponders retirement and even death--his age is hanging heavily upon him. But he goes through a lot of physical stress to finally nail the murderer. At least he manages not to adopt another cat when a witness is hospitalized!...more
Aspiring archaeologist Mark takes a job helping with a survey of an old estate before it's converted into a restaurant. Besides, he'll get to see the Aspiring archaeologist Mark takes a job helping with a survey of an old estate before it's converted into a restaurant. Besides, he'll get to see the woman he loves, Hillary, who has just started as assistant curator at a nearby museum. Both locations are indebted to the sinister Coburg family, whose past is even darker than its present, who used to own the mansion. Strange presences are felt in the mansion, but when Mark and his boss find a dead body, everyone is suddenly in danger....more
Lewis Wilkins disappeared from his Jarrett Creek summer home just before Thanksgiving. Widowed police chief Samuel Craddock, working alone over the hoLewis Wilkins disappeared from his Jarrett Creek summer home just before Thanksgiving. Widowed police chief Samuel Craddock, working alone over the holiday weekend, doesn't know much about the various summer people living by the lake, but he's still saddened when two kids find Wilkins' body. He calls in help when he realizes that the death is not a grisly accident, but murder. As he explores Wilkins' past and his relationships with others, he realizes that nobody is going to come out of the investigation looking good. Meantime, he's found a starving puppy, and despite himself (and his resident cat) has become a dog owner. He's also met a new woman, one who makes him realize that his casual, friendly relationship with the divorced artist down the road may not be enough....more
I thought it was a mystery--that's why it got a two rating. It's actually a romance, featuring former SEAL Elias and beautiful, feisty romance writer I thought it was a mystery--that's why it got a two rating. It's actually a romance, featuring former SEAL Elias and beautiful, feisty romance writer Miller, who go to Central America to rescue her brother, also a former SEAL, who is running from the cartels to rescue the valuable artifact that his father and mother died looking for. A lot of sex and banter, which were okay; just not what I was looking for....more
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 foundJake 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....more
Writer E. J. Pugh and her husband Willis plan an anniversary getaway at a bed and breakfast in a quaint Texas hill town. But they find the little old Writer E. J. Pugh and her husband Willis plan an anniversary getaway at a bed and breakfast in a quaint Texas hill town. But they find the little old lady hostess, Callie Marie, plagued by what she swears is her father's murderous ghost. When one of their fellow guests are murdered, they're forced to stay on, giving E. J., an amateur sleuth, a chance at the puzzle. Meanwhile, their three daughters at home are confronted by a (noncriminal) mystery, fraught with teenage drama, themselves, and despite wildly differing personalities, are able to pull together to solve it. And a third story is told in italics tracing the adventures and misadventures of Callie Marie's youngest uncle....more
China Bayles is worried about her private investigator husband. He promised her he'd stay out of Mexico while on his cases, but local rumor has it thaChina Bayles is worried about her private investigator husband. He promised her he'd stay out of Mexico while on his cases, but local rumor has it that he's working against the drug cartels in Juarez. But she's distracted when a woman calls and asks to talk to China about an unknown murder. Kelly is a former hospice nurse, but her car crashes before she can reach China's house. I'm not usually crazy about this series, but this one kept me reading, even though I felt I should make a new shelf called "You know she's going to do something stupid" just for this one....more
When sheriff Dan Rhodes investigates a burglary at Billy Bacon's ranch, he finds a nervous Bacon, and a dead body in the barn. As he investigates bothWhen sheriff Dan Rhodes investigates a burglary at Billy Bacon's ranch, he finds a nervous Bacon, and a dead body in the barn. As he investigates both the death and the spate of local robberies, he also finds a number of things he hadn't expected--including an alligator. As usual, Crider gives a loving but clear-eyed portrayal of the eccentric inhabitants of Blacklin county, which doesn't exist in Texas, but which should....more
Lindy just wants to study a way to grow drought-resistant pecan trees and flirt with deputy Hunter, but her family insists that she go to the big partLindy just wants to study a way to grow drought-resistant pecan trees and flirt with deputy Hunter, but her family insists that she go to the big party to introduce Eugene Wheatley's new wife to local society. When Eugene is murdered at the party, Lindy finds herself involved in the investigation, and befriending the new widow. Somehow I came in at the end of this series, but apparently that's an all right way of reading these books....more
Beautiful reporter Jado Marriott is visiting her grandmother in her hometown, which is having an oil boom. When she finds a dead midget in a child's dBeautiful reporter Jado Marriott is visiting her grandmother in her hometown, which is having an oil boom. When she finds a dead midget in a child's doll carriage, she's on the scent immediately, vacation or no vacation. The carnival is in town and the midget was part of a side-show exhibit, which means Jado is interested in the Siamese twins, the skeleton man, and the snake charmer too. But the rapidity with which the authorities are trying to cover up the murder leads Jado to consider the corrupt local law enforcement structure. ...more
Loading...
