Former Chief of Police Samuel Craddock knows he
should have done far more when he hears that Dora Lee has been murdered in her
home in Cotton Hill. She had called him the evening before to tell him that
somebody was sitting out on the road by her farm watching her. Craddock was in
bed for the night and with her grandson, Greg, out there at the farm Craddock
figured she was just being nervous and everything would be fine.
“I
told her the same thing I always used to tell her: ‘Dora Lee, if you’re still
worried tomorrow morning, you call me and I’ll see what I can find out.’”
(Page 8)
Now Dora Lee, who he has known her since they were
little kids in school together many years ago, is dead thanks to being stabbed
with a Bowie knife in her chest. According to Rodell Skinner, the current Chief
of Police for Jarrett Creek, Texas, the grandson Greg did the crime as he
wanted her money. While Rodell is sure it is an open and shut case, Craddock
has met the kid before and about the worst he can say about him is he always seemed
“…a little pleased with himself.” (Page 10) For Craddock, Greg does not seem to be the
type to kill and has a reasonable explanation for his side of recent events. Greg
is an artist and a talented one from what Craddock can tell as he knows more
than a thing or two about art.
Good thing he also knows a thing of two about police
work while living in his rural area located in the middle of the triangle formed
by Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. Chief Rodell is not only convinced that
Greg did it, he is legendary for his drinking as well as his incompetence. Relying
on Rodell to figure his way out of this case means Greg is on his way to death
row. Craddock isn’t about to let that happen as he figures he owes it to Dora
Lee to find out what is really going on in this complex tale of murder, greed,
and art.
A
Killing at Cotton Hill: A Samuel Craddock Mystery
by Terry Shames is a very good book.
First in a series, the book puts this reviewer in mind of the excellent
Sheriff Rhodes series by Bill Crider. Small town Texas where people have known
each other all their lives and still don’t know all the secrets until a murder
comes along to shake things loose in more ways than one. Along with the secrets
there are the occasional flashes of humor in the tale along with the numerous
details of Texas and a way of life that make the book and its characters come
alive for the reader. Complex with nuance and layering, A Killing at Cotton Hill: A
Samuel Craddock Mystery is very good read and is strongly recommended.
A Killing at Cotton Hill: A Samuel Craddock Mystery
Terry
Shames
Seventh
Street Books (imprint of Prometheus Books)
July
2013
ISBN#
978--61614-799-0
Paperback
(also available as an e-book)
245
Pages
$15.95
Material received from the publisher for my use in
an objective review.
Terry Shames is the latest featured author over at
Jenny Milchman’s “Made It Moment” series. You can and should read the
interesting piece here.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2014
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