June 14, 2010
Sheriff Dan Rhodes faces two big non–crime-related problems in Crider's winning 18th mystery to feature the Clearview, Tex., lawman (after 2009's Murder in Four Parts). First, a pair of women authors have written a couple of novels starring Sage Barton, "a two-fisted action hero" supposedly based on Rhodes, to the sheriff's embarrassment. Second, Lester Hamilton's foul (or fowl) smelling chicken farm, while legal, provokes endless complaints from Lester's neighbors. When Lester's body turns up near a well-known fishing hole, Rhodes has a real crime on his hands. Meanwhile, he also has to deal with a mad bowman locals call Robin Hood, who's causing mischief by shooting arrows with notes attached, as well as women who protest chicken farming in skimpy feather-covered outfits and the dangers of "noodling," i.e., fishing for large catfish with one's hand for bait. Few will be able to resist Crider's brand of broad humor, eccentric characters, and murder.