Set against the backdrop of a community college art workshop, tensions rise when local resident Burt Collins expresses his disdain for the artists. Accused of vandalizing paintings, Collins finds himself in a chaotic situation that escalates into a near riot. Sheriff Dan Rhodes steps in to restore order, aided by Seepy Benton, a college math instructor with aspirations of law enforcement. The story intertwines themes of community conflict and the clash between art and local sentiment, creating a compelling narrative of drama and resolution.
Crider's prose slices through conventions and expectations," -Booklist OUTRAGE AT BLANCO It's True Grit meets Gran Torino in a blazingly original crime novel from Bill Crider, an Edgar and Shamus finalist and a two-time winner of the Anthony Award On a bloody day in 1887, death came to Blanco, Texas. Before the sun went down, the livery stable was torched, an outlaw gang robbed the bank, two men were killed, and young newlywed Ellie Taine was raped. One of the dead was the man who planned the robbery - the son of dying, legendary Texas Ranger Jonathan Crossland - the other was Ellie's husband, an innocent bystander. The dead don't know fear. Ellie is dead inside. She takes a gun and rides out after the desperadoes, cold-blooded and fearless, determined to kill the men who ruined her life. She's joined by Jonathan Crossland, who only has days left to live... but would rather die in his saddle making amends for his son than rot in his bed. Together, Ellie and Jonathan set out on a mission of vengeance and justice, one that neither of them expects nor hopes to survive. "In the hands of Bill Crider, noir seems as atmospheric and doomful as ever," Publisher's Weekly "Bill Crider is one of the most unpretentious and versatile pure entertainers in the mystery field." Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
After her heart-wrenching quest for revenge in Bill Crider's original western crime novel Outrage at Blanco, Ellie Taine dusts off her guns to dish out more justice in this powerful story of vengeance and violence.
Murderous portents lie in the astral plane, and deadly reckonings wreak havoc in the human heart in this collection of sixteen original stories by such masterly mystery writers as Lawrence Block, Peter Lovesey, Peter Tremayne, Jon L. Breen, Edward Marston, Bill Crider, Simon Brett, and the internationally acclaimed Anne Perry.
For lovers of romantic 1940s mysteries, Humphrey Bogart gets a chance to go beyond his tough-guy screen persona and actually help solve a blackmail and murder plot-with him as the intended victim! Humphrey Bogart and down-and-out Hollywood private-eye Terry Scott team up to thwart a scheme to blackmail Bogie for murder and find themselves tangling with gangsters and trying not to trip over corpses. Their investigation takes them to glamorous restaurants like the Brown Derby, where the stars go to be seen, and to other, darker, more dangerous places where names are changed and faces are hidden from public view. As Bogie and Terry dig deeper, they uncover too many secrets that someone doesn't want known, and they find themselves the targets of a killer. Getting through alive will take all the smarts, toughness and grit of a character in a Humphrey Bogart movie. We'll Always Have Murder is for fans of Raymond Chandler and L.A. Confidential, and is a mystery treat of the first order.
"Life is never easy for Texas Sheriff Dan Rhodes. When he is called in the middle of the night to investigate gunshots at a haunted house, Rhodes finds the body of meth dealer Neil Foshee. Recently released from jail, Foshee has his fair share of potential murderers, including former girlfriend Vicki, her new boyfriend, the nephew of Clearview's mayor, and Foshee's criminal cousins Earl and Louie. Complicating matters is Seepy Benton, the community college math professor who has a new summer job. He's founded Clearview Paranormal Investigations and wants to solve the murder by communing with Foshee's ghost. But when he connects with something else instead and a second body is found, Rhodes is left with more questions than ever. Who's the dead person? How long has the body been hidden? Is Benton really able to communicate with ghosts? And most importantly: What, if anything, does the body have to do with Neil Foshee's death? Between the Living and the Dead, Bill Crider's latest installment in the critically-acclaimed Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery series, finds Rhodes dealing with ghost hunters, runaway bulls, and assorted low-level crimes, including prosecuting people who don't use their turn signals. It's all in a day's work in Clearview, Texas"--
The story follows Ray Storey, a man driven by a quest for vengeance after his brother's murder. As he navigates the world of a traveling medicine show, he ultimately confronts the brutal Hawkins brothers, testing his courage and resolve. The narrative delves into themes of revenge and the moral complexities of justice, set against a backdrop of deception and spectacle.
Haunted by the loss of his sister to the town's corruption, Ryan is compelled to confront his past in Tularosa. As he navigates the treacherous political landscape, he seeks vengeance and justice, determined to rectify the wrongs that have plagued his family and the community. This gripping tale of revenge and redemption explores themes of loyalty, morality, and the struggle against systemic injustice.
Set in the Wild West, this murder mystery revolves around a Sheriff who confronts his laid-back attitude towards law enforcement. As he faces complex, troubled characters, he must transform into a determined protector of the innocent, wielding both his iron will and a blazing gun to uncover the truth and bring justice to a lawless land.
