Review by Booklist Review
Dora Lee Parjeter has been murdered. The night before the crime, retired police chief Samuel Craddock received a call from Dora Lee, who was sure someone was watching her. Craddock calmed her down, but she was right. That's one reason he heads to the Parjeter place as soon as he hears the bad news. The other is that the current police chief, Rodell, doubles as the town drunk. Craddock knows Rodell will take the easy way out, and, sure enough, he's decided to pin the murder on Dora Lee's grandson Greg, a gentle young artist who lives in a small outbuilding behind the main house. Craddock, with time on his hands and a sense of justice in his heart, mounts his own investigation. Craddock notices a painting is missing from Dora Lee's living room. Another factor possibly at play concerns a Houston development company's interest in building a racetrack in the area. The small-town southern mystery is becoming a genre all its own, with Shames capably joining Bill Crider and Steven Havill in chronicling the mayhem and hidden agendas in the region. A solid debut thriller.--Lukowsky, Wes Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Shames's promising debut, the first in a series, introduces retired police chief Samuel Craddock of Jarrett Creek, Tex., a strong-minded, fairly able-bodied, and firmly decent man in his 60s. After the fatal stabbing of widow Dora Lee Parjeter, Samuel feels compelled to solve her murder, having told her not to be too concerned about someone lurking around her ranch house. When the drunken fool who's the current police chief decides to pin the crime on Dora Lee's prickly but artistically gifted grandson, Greg, Samuel identifies other suspects, including a land-greedy neighbor, an envious art teacher, the victim's slick nephew, and her seductive daughter. Real estate shenanigans, arson, and art theft further complicate the case. Readers will want to see more of the likable main character, who compassionately but relentlessly sifts the evidence. Convincing smalltown atmosphere and a vivid supporting cast are a plus. Agent: Gail Fortune, Talbot Fortune Agency. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
