Dan is the Sheriff of Blacklin County, Texas where major crime is not supposed to happen. And so when Shotgun Saturday Night begins and Bert Ramsey, the local handyman, walks into Sheriff Dan Rhodes's office carrying a severed arm it is shocking. Bert found the arm stored in a crate with other severed arms and legs while he was clearing out brush for a neighbor who is away traveling.
Do they have a serial killer in Blacklin County? Turns out the explanation is not that serious. The severed arms and legs are from a hospital in another town which needed to dispose of body parts amputated during legitimate surgeries. As to why the doctor at the hospital didn't dispose of these body parts using correct procedure that is wrong but it is not murder.
But then just as Sheriff Rhodes is ready to close the case, Bert Ramsey is murdered. Is his death connected to finding the body parts? Or could his death have a connection to the Los Muertos tatoo found on Bert's body during his autopsy? Los Muertes is a motorcycle gang with a violent history and some of their members have been spotted riding their motorcycles around Blacklin County. Did they kill Bert and if so, why?
So far I have found the crimes tthat Sheriff Dan Rhodes is asked to solve in book one and two mildly interesting but what keeps me coming back to this series is Sheriff Dan Rhodes himself. He is an easy going man who loves old classic movies and the occasional Dr Pepper and a burger at the local diner. Sheriff Rhodes has a small staff, Hack Jensen, the dispatcher, Lawton who runs the jail and a new deputy, Ruth Grady. Since the death of his wife, Sheriff Rhodes has been lonely but in Shotgun Saturday Night his relationship with Ivy Daniels is getting serious and like Dan she is smart, courageous and determined.
The two novels I have read in this series are about 160 pages each and in addition to Dan Rhodes there is the town of Blacklin County, Texas. Bill Crider has done a very good job in describing the local color of the town and the people who live there. And if you don't mind the very warm weather, Blacklin County is a nice place to spend your time.
Sheriff Dan Rhodes does sound like an engaging character. And one that I would really like, too. :D
ReplyDeleteSheriff Dan Rhodes is very likeable and the town of Blacklin County is keeping me interested as well. And the novels so far are only 160 pages and that seems to me just right. I'm at a point now where it's a struggle to read books over 350 pages unless they are in audio.
DeleteIt seems like you're on a reading roll and that you're fitting into this series very well. It's nice having a good protagonist like the sheriff ... it goes along way. Keep us posted on the next :-)
ReplyDeleteI am on a reading roll. It's partly having discovered Libby and also I am trying to meet my 60 books read this year goal which I posted at goodreads. But that can be stress producing because goodreads let's you know exactly how far ahead or behind you are in your goal. LOL.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm trying to get to 65 books this year ... and since my April was tough with my mom's passing .... I am behind, so goodreads keeps telling me, lol. It's good not to log in too much b/c then you keep seeing you are behind! good luck.
Delete65 is a good number. I was sorry to hear about your mom but the good memories will always be there.
DeleteThe thing about goodreads is that there are alot of books out there containing only one short story and goodreads will count it as a book. But I don't feel right about that even though it would boost my total!
Kathy, I am so glad you are enjoying the Dan Rhodes series. I agree with you, it is the characters that keep me coming back. I have read books 1-8 and I will probably get #9, Death by Accident, on the Kindle. I already have book 10 on the Kindle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for recommending this series Tracy. It is the characters, Dan Rhodes in particular and I like the way Bill Crider has taken his time creating the town of Blacklin. It has its own character. I will be on my way to book three.
Delete