It is the middle of October
and still very hot and dry in Blacklin County, Texas. The weather has not been
right for years and that isn’t all. Sheriff Dan Rhodes has already had a busy
morning when the call comes in about the dead body over at the branch campus of
a local community college. While he isn't sure if the one building on the
outskirts of Clearview could be considered a campus Sheriff Rhodes is sure the
body between the dumpsters is dead and the crime scene is ruined thanks to gawkers.
English Teacher Earl Wellington
is dead. Probable cause of death is the obvious visual sign that part of his
head is bashed in. Considering what looks to be blood and hair in the right
place on one of the dumpsters, it appears that a sharp corner on one did it
with some help by person or persons unknown. Wellington was a bachelor, but he
was also an English teacher. As Dean King points out, “It's always the English
teachers.”
Wellington wasn't liked by
students or staff and seemed to relish heated confrontations. That means the
suspect pool is large and extends beyond his current job assignment. Too bad Sherriff
Rhodes doesn't have the fictional Sheriff Sarge Barton to help him. Sarge might
help with Rhodes boycott of Dr. Pepper too now that they went and ruined it.
This latest in the series is
number eighteen and is another good mystery with plenty of laugh out loud
moments. With referenced comments to earlier books in the series Compound
Murder: A Dan Rhodes Mystery frequently reminds readers of good times
and not so good times in earlier books. As expected Texas author Bill Crider
brings back favorite characters such as Hack, Lawton, reporter Jennifer Loam,
Rhode's loving wife Ivy, Math teacher Seepy Benton and many others in an highly
entertaining read that also frequently references classic movies and books. If
you are not aware of these cultural references thanks to your young age, you
will discover additional hours of entertainment pleasure checking them out.
Along with a complicated
main mystery there are plenty of interesting secondary storylines that generate
numerous laugh out loud moments. The latest in the series, Compound Murder: A Dan Rhodes Mystery
keeps this fine series rolling along well and is very much worth your time.
Compound Murder: A Dan Rhodes Mystery
Bill Crider
Minotaur Books (A Thomas Dunne
Book)
August 13, 2013
ISBN# 978-0312641658
Hardback (also available in e-book
form)
272 Pages
$24.99
The author provided an ARC
in exchange for an objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2013
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2 comments:
Thanks, Kevin!
Enjoyed it very much, Bill. Thank you for this read and the many hours of reading pleasure you have brought me.
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