Death by Accident

Clearview and the surrounding Blacklin County, Texas have seen their share of weird events and murders over the years. Sheriff Dan Rhodes has dealt with both over the years. In every case a rational explanation has eventually surfaced. It's November and repercussions of events in "Winning Can Be Murder" are still felt by many including Rhodes. So too is his age because more and more the county is changing and not for the better. Back when Rhodes was a heck of a lot younger, he swam in the swimming pools on the Old Settler's Grounds. Fed by the river the pools had been a great place to cool off. As the years past, the pools fell into disrepair and nobody is supposed to be swimming in them any more. Technically, the man floating in one of the pools isn't swimming, as he is dead. It looks like a freak accident and nothing more thanks to the rope and the busted limb from the tree adjoining the pool. It certainly appears that the man, no doubt drunk, was swinging on the rope over the pool when the limb snapped. The limb hit the man in the head and either knocked him out so that he drowned in the water or outright killed him. The dead man, Peter Yeldell, has been in trouble of one type or another for years and alcohol was usually involved. So the whole deal makes sense in a weird way. But, Yeldell's death would be the second freak accident in two weeks. The first was John West. He literally exploded on a country road of Clearview around 2 in the morning in a bizarre accident. That death was bugging Rhodes and now he has this accidental death. In typical Rhodes fashion, despite all the evidence to the contrary, Rhodes starts asking questions and poking around. Before long he finds more questions than answers and manages to get himself in trouble yet again. Ninth in the series, this novel sheds no new light on the character or those around him. His daughter Susan is still a no show character having vanished early on, Rhodes still doesn't trust computers, loves Dr. Pepper and is tolerant despite grumbling of his wife's attempts to make him eat healthier. And he still doesn't call for back up and walks into situations that clearly by now he should have learned it would be a good idea at the very least to unholster his weapon. Despite those quirks that some readers will question, Rhodes maintains a steady hand and comfortable feeling for the reader. Bill Crider's focus is always the latest fiasco in the county as well as the latest crime/murder and spends most of his story telling energy in that direction. Therefore, readers who want to see major character development and bloodbath every few pages or novels may wish to look elsewhere. Those who must wallow in the mind of the evil serial killer every other chapter should go elsewhere as well because Crider doesn't do clichéd. What he does and does very well is create interesting characters in real life you would be happy to know and call friends while telling a tale focused on the mystery and not

Sheriff Dan Rhodes has seen his share of fights in Blacklin County, Texas, but he certainly didn't expect to see fisticuffs break out between members of the Clearview Historical Society and the local chapter of the Sons and Daughters of Texas. At the bottom of the dispute is the ownership of the Burleson cabin, an historic building located on the Old Settlers' Grounds. (Readers should remember the Old Settlers' Grounds from the fifth book in the series, "Evil at the Root," when Rhodes had to have the well dug up as part of a cold-case investigation.) Rhodes didn't know such a dispute was brewing until Pep Yeldell was found drowned in one of the swimming pools on the community property. His death appeared to be an accident. Then again, John West's death seemed to be one, too. How else could someone die by spontaneous combustion, hit by a car when he was carrying a gas can? While Rhodes is trying to connect what must surely be two murders, another "accident" happens. This time it's Randall Overton, known handyman-swindler, who is found burnt beyond most recognition in his pickup truck, accompanied by whiskey, cigarettes, and a lighter. Who knew all three men? Does the local honky-tonk, the County Line, have anything to do with their deaths? Are any of the historical folks involved? And what about Brother Alton's pulpit accusation about Overton's character, or even the minister's threat to put an end to the upcoming celebration at the Old Settlers' Grounds? In his usual laconic style, the good sheriff puzzles over all the facts and eventually comes to a correct conclusion. His wife Ivy helps him decipher some of the clues, and she's proving invaluable in doing so. Along the way, of course, Rhodes puts himself in undue danger, always thinking he can handle things himself and preferring not to call for backup. At least this time, he and Ivy got a new pet and a new car out of the deal. One of the better installments in this mystery series, though *all* of them make for entertaining reading.

Sheriff Dan Rhodes is a `good `ol boy', boy in this case meaning absolutely no disrespect, but just that he's easy-going, laid back, relaxed...well, you get the point. In addition, he's very addictive. I suspect one would do well to read these books in the order written, the better to keep track of the regulars-both human and dogs-that are part of the town of Clearview, county of Blacklin, state of Texas. This book not only tells us how he acquired the Edsel and `Yancey' the dog mentioned in later stories, but also shows off the thinking skills of Dan and his somewhat recent wife, Ivy. It's clear that Dan is no longer as young as he once was-but then, few of us are. His acrobatic stunts are fewer these day, which is a good thing. And while you won't have any shoot-em-up wild and wooly car chases, there is exactly enough excitement to keep you reading until you reach the final page. One accidental death in a fairly small town might be accepted as just that; a second sets folks to wondering, but the third! Well, that starts Dan and his staff-deputy Ruth, dispatcher/computer whiz Hack and jailor Lawton-to wondering about various things. The first death had been a hit-and-run, the second a drowning, and the third was what Hack insisted was `spontaneous combustion'. While all this is going on, Clearview has another problem to solve, which promises to be just as combustible. The two historical societies are feuding over the rights to an ancient cabin, as well as where it's located. The Clearview Sons and Daughters of Texas and the Clearview Historical Society most usually disagree about nearly everything, so of course they have differing opinions about the proper place for the cabin, as well as the planned celebration in the coming year. Rhodes tries to stay on the diet Ivy suggests, but it sure isn't easy. The minutiae of small-town life may be small stuff, but, bit by bit Bill Crider creates a wonderful slice of small-town life to accompany his puzzle. Clearview is a wonderful place to visit. You should try it sometime.

Hey, it's not great literature, but it's a good story, and it reminds me why I like reading mystery stories! Our hero, Sheriff Dan Rhodes, is a laid-back kinda fella, a good-guy Texas sheriff with a nice wife and a dawg. Some folks start dying down Clearview way, and the view is muddied by some passion and booze. Dan has to climb a tree, rescue a dog, and take a long hot bath before he solves it. But Dan is no dummy, and he detects well and pays attention to the itch between his shoulderblades. And in an all-too-short Saturday afternoon's reading time, the mystery is unraveled and an enjoyable reading escape is finished.