Dead Broke in Jarrett Creek

August 4, 2014
Jarrett Creek, Tex., is running out of money in Shames’s solid third mystery featuring retired police chief Sam Craddock (after A Killing in Cotton Hill). Since the small town can now afford only two part-time police officers, Craddock volunteers to investigate the shooting murder of Gary Dellmore, the son of the local banker. Gary’s flagrant extramarital affairs first draw suspicion to his glum widow, but Craddock soon discovers that the deceased was aware of irregularities in the water-park project that wrecked Jarrett Creek’s finances; indeed, he may have been making money on the shady deal. With his makeshift police force, Craddock is forced to rely more on his insight into his neighbors’ characters than on forensics as he separates layers of mischief and mayhem. Still, like a good, steady shade tree mechanic, he gets the job done. Agent: Gail Fortune, Talbot Fortune Agency.

Starred review from September 1, 2014

The Texas town of Jarrett Creek is flat broke. Both the sheriff and the lead deputy have quit because who can afford to work for nothing? Samuel Craddock can; he inherited money from his wife's estate and as the former sheriff, he definitely has a dog in the hunt. Gary Dellmore, the heir to the main bank is dead, and someone needs to investigate his murder. As Craddock probes the crime, he uncovers a long line of risky business investments (that water park seemed like a good idea at the time), as well as kickbacks Dellmore took, which helped drive Jarrett Creek into bankruptcy. Everywhere Craddock looks there is a suspect, and, as he well knows, a good sheriff is obligated to poke a lot of sleeping dogs. VERDICT Shames is spot-on in her depiction of rural west Texas life in this well-plotted story (after A Killing at Cotton Hill and The Last Death of Jack Harbin) filled with extremely affable characters.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.