Murder in Four Parts

Clearview, Texas might not be a huge metropolis but Sheriff Dan Rhodes certainly has his hands full! First, an invitation to join the Clearview Barbershop Chorus comes out of the blue, particularly since Dan Rhodes can't really sing. Then, a call about an alligator relieves him of investigating the motive behind that request although capturing an alligator can hardly be called restful, especially not with the possibility of the history of the town's chicken wars coming to the forefront again. Not even an alligator can distract Dan Rhodes for long. Lloyd Berry, the director of the chorus, is found murdered. While investigating the victim's past, Dan Rhodes gets a glimpse below the surface of battles within the chorus. Some accuse Berry of stealing funds from the chorus. Rumors about a singing valentine abound, rumors perhaps created by Berry himself. As Sheriff Rhodes investigates the murder, he must also rein in all the small crimes, neighbor wars and small town eccentrics. Throughout his duties, the hint of the upcoming election looms. One wrong step might lead to a lost election. Bill Crider's MURDER IN FOUR PARTS is a mystery in which setting brings the reader right into the story. The town and its inner dynamics are as much a delight as the murder mystery puzzle. From the first few pages, Sheriff Rhodes' humor and commentary on modern culture give this mystery a unique flavor and depth to his sleuth's character. Some of Sheriff Rhodes' insights into generational internet changes in book culture and life itself add a whole new layer of reading pleasure to this mystery. Separated from the small-town craziness before him, Dan Rhodes is still a vital part of the local community. As sleuth, he is the reader's perfect guide to the world of Clearview, bringing the reader into the very heart of the community and yet just separated enough from all the dynamics unfolding that the reader gets a bird's eye view as well. Wonderful! MURDER IN FOUR PARTS is full of mystery puzzles, not only in the main murder mystery but all the interpersonal conflicts, secrets, hidden motivations and the strange occurrences happening in Clearview. Interwoven threads keep the reader guessing until the last page. Even when the murderer's identity is unveiled, Bill Crider gives the reader several other puzzles that intrigue in the unraveling. Quite simply, MURDER IN FOUR PARTS is a book for readers who want more mystery in their mysteries. Each clue adds another thread to the town's fabric. Intersections between separate sources to the case at hand or separate mysteries in and of themselves keep the reader wanting to return to the book when outside events prevent a straight-through reading. Although certain clues may not lead to the murderer's identity, Bill Crider excels in the writing of the red herring. Nothing is superfluous or added simply to delay the murderer's identity but rather each clue adds a richness to the whole world within the mystery

Like many of us, Sheriff Dan Rhodes knows he really can't sing and doesn't need some guy on a certain TV show to tell him. As a sheriff, Dan Rhodes is asked to join just about every group in Blacklin County. Most of the invitations he declines and he has every intention of declining the current invitation to join the barbershop chorus. Hack, the dispatcher, counsels otherwise and points out that it would help come election time. The next election is more than a year out so Rhodes isn't worried about that. Elections are a sore spot with Rhodes anyway and he is more than a little tired of folks threatening him with their vote if he doesn't do things the way they want. Something that happens soon enough in the latest in the series along with a death. Maybe the director of the barbershop chorus, Lyold Berry, wasn't interested in Rhodes singing. Maybe Lloyd Berry was hoping that if Rhodes joined the chorus, Berry would have some protection. Certainly his floral shop wasn't safe as that was where he was found dead behind the counter with his head bashed in. Proably due to the heavy metal wrench next to the body. Solving the case requires Rhodes full attention, but the frequent sightings of a naked man outside the local attorney's office, the chicken eating alligator, and a host of other things will fight for attention as well. That, and the constant reminders, like the drumbeat of the approaching storm, of the fact that the next election is coming. On one end of the spectrum, you have Joe Landsale and his vision of East Texas. A vision of a landscape frequently populated by human beings full of violence, guile and twisted character. In his work there is a sense of the gothic coupled with a living breathing evil that many graphically and willingly embrace. At the other end, you have the Dan Rhodes series by Bill Crider. A vision of East Texas where most are hardworking honest folks trying to do the right thing. A vision where occasionally, somebody slips up and kills somebody, but they never really meant to do it. It just happened and usually the victim bears some responsibility for his or her demise. And Rhodes just keeps asking questions until he catches the killer in one lie too many. While both visions of East Texas have a lot of truth in them, Crider is doing for East Texas what Philip Craig did for Martha's Vineyard and Steven F. Havill has done for Posadas County, New Mexico. Unlike Havill who changed his series several novels ago by making his signature sheriff Bill Gastner nothing more than a minor player, Crider has kept Rhodes front and center in a series that consistently delivers a good read. You can't ask for more than that. Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2009

It's always fun to return to Blacklin County, Texas, and to catch up with what's happening in Sheriff Dan Rhodes' jurisdiction. There could be rogue alligators lurking in ditches, neighbors complaining about each other's chickens, or even a streaker parading around a downtown Clearview parking lot. And of course, in the midst of everyday life, there's always a sudden murder mystery to unravel. The local barbershop chorus seems to be having some troubles of its own this time. Some of the men are feuding amongst themselves (re: the above-mentioned chickens, as well as the source of a singing telegram they had to deliver). But at least one of them also believes that director Lloyd Berry might be misusing chorus funds and/or buying too much music. And before you know it, Lloyd is found dead on the floor of his daytime business, a flower shop. No one in the adjacent strip mall saw anything suspicious. At least, that's what they all say. Was a barbershopper to blame? Or was someone from a nearby storefront involved? After all, the Rollin' Sevens anchors the other end of the building. Its legalized gambling on "eight-liners" attracts a certain crowd of Blacklin County residents. Did one of them have a reason for taking Lloyd out of the game? And is that facility even operating within the letter of the law? As usual, Dan has his hands full as he copes with all of these issues and developments. We marvel at his Andy-Taylor-of-Mayberry manner of remaining calm and level-headed as he methodically puzzles out the identity of the murderer. We trust he'll get to the bottom of the situation, even if he has to engage a suspect in a muddy mesquite-woods chase or play hop-scotch with him on a passing train. Dan always gets his man. Or woman. "Murder in Four Parts" is one of the most satisfying and well-crafted episodes in the Dan Rhodes Mystery series. Avid mystery readers could start with this one, if they have yet to venture into Dan's world. But then they'll have to go back and read all the previous installments, which now number 15. Happy reading!

Probably my favorite "Sheriff Dan" adventure so far. I've read several. A whodunit's whodunit. Enjoyed some of the continuing characters quirks as well! TC

In Texas the Clearview Community Barbershop Chorus musical director florist Lloyd Berry invites Sheriff Dan Rhodes to join as a baritone. Dan is shocked by the invitation as he knows he cannot sing worth saving his soul and so does everyone else including Lloyd knows that as a fact. However, he rejects the offer stating he is too busy with law enforcement. Soon afterward while Dan searches for an apparent chicken eating gator, someone bashes in Lloyd's head. He questions the chorus members and is taken aback by the amount of discord; the feuds are palatable leading Dan to wonder if one of the members killed Lloyd. Other incidents divide Dan's time, but as he digs into Berry's past, the sheriff finds several irate enemies with motives. MURDER IN FOUR PARTS is overall a fun often amusing thriller although the prime investigation never accelerates though the trademark sidebar inquiries with the eccentric cast are humorous. Dan is his usual self as he takes his time to insure he is doing things right. Although not quite as exciting as past Rhodes tales (see OF ALL SAD WORDS and MURDER AMONG THE OWLS), the latest Sheriff Rhodes police procedural is an engaging amusing small town mystery. Harriet Klausner