Ten-Acre Rock by Kris
Lackey (Blackstone Publishing, 2023) is the fourth book in the fine police
procedural series with Johnston County, Oklahoma, sheriff’s deputy Hannah Bond
and Chickasaw Lighthorse
police sergeant Bill Maytubby. Kris Lackey is a native of Oklahoma who lives in
Norman, Oklahoma. His books exude authenticity of people and place.
Bond and
Maytubby are finishing lunch when a backwoods eccentric they’ve dealt with
before calls, saying he’s found a skull in a homemade kiln. They verify his
discovery and since they can’t tell if the kiln is on Chickasaw land or Oklahoma state land,
they both mark the area with crime scene tape and take photos, then send the
location to their respective bosses.
Hours later
someone runs the backwoods hunter’s truck off the road. When he survives, his
determined assailants visit his house after dark with mayhem in mind. Bond and
Maytubby juggle their search for the identity of the charred skeleton and for
the owner of the property where it was found while trying to protect the hunter
who firmly resists their help. They aren’t completely altruistic; it’s obvious
his attackers are linked in some way to his discovery of the kiln.
One of the
charms of this series is the use of real places and landmarks. A helpful map at
the beginning of the book shows Chickasaw, Choctaw, and southeastern Oklahoma
lands with place names. Ten-Acre Rock is ten acres of granite in Johnston
County. The granite is an unusual pink, white, and black, some of it was used
in the State Capitol building.
Well-constructed,
beautifully written story that incorporates Native American issues. Maytubby’s
fiancé is a public health doctor who visits reservation schools to promote
nutrition early to try to reduce the epidemic of diabetes among the tribes.
Maytubby and
Bond are original and realistic. I am so pleased that there is no budding
romance between them, as is so often the case. They are law enforcement
professionals who work well together and they focus on getting the job done.
Very refreshing and lifelike. Seamless nonstop action, this story would
translate to a screen easily, although casting Bond might be a challenge. Think
Frances McDormand, only taller.
No need to start at the beginning of the series but it helps. Highly recommended. Kirkus starred review.
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Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
(July 11, 2023)
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Language: English
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Hardcover: 204 pages
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ISBN-10: 1982689307
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ISBN-13: 978-1982689308
Aubrey
Nye Hamilton ©2023
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.
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