“This sensational small town crime thriller is a perfect beach read.” –Best ThrillersIt’s an unseasonably hot April night in 1965. The social revolutions rocking America have mostly bypassed Burr, a tiny rural community in western Oklahoma. Like much of the state, Burr remains as it’s always been: Religious. Conservative. And 100% white. When an unknown young African-American woman is found … 100% white. When an unknown young African-American woman is found murdered on the railroad tracks outside town, most of Burr would rather look the other way. The town’s police chief, troubled local hero and ex-Marine Emmett Hardy, doesn’t have that luxury. A lover of books and jazz in the land of football and country & western, Emmett is an outsider in a place he knows like the back of his hand. In his search for the killer, he’s forced to slice through layers of hate and hypocrisy to confront the ethical rot at the town’s core, while being haunted by the vision of a life and love that might have been.
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Totally LOVED this book. It was a crime solving story but sooo much more. A period piece set in the 1950’s in a hick town in Oklahoma but the local police chief, a Mr. Emmett Hardy, keeps you entertained throughout with colloquial witticisms.
If you’ve ever lived in a small town in that part of the US you’ll howl with laughter at the true depiction of life there. Hoping that the author keeps his word processor going, and going, and going. We want MORE of Emmett Hardy!
I could not get in to this book at all. I couldn’t even get through the first chapter. My interest was not peaked at all. I would not recommend this book or this author..
Excellent mystery tale. Likeable and believeable characters. Great read.
Really good, entertaining read. Well developed characters and story line. The characters acted and spoke in ways that rang true. Can’t wait to read the next one.
Too wordy – never finished it
This first-person crime drama is a good read — well-crafted mystery, good pacing, real characters, meaningful dialogue. I particularly enjoyed the wonderful description of the 1960’s rural Oklahoma, its people and its mores. Detracting from the book is very sloppy editing with too many missing / wrong words. Also, in one reference the author confuses Goldilocks with Little Red Riding Hood.
Loved the main character…..Hope the author writes again about him….For light reading you will enjoy….
Good characters Good humor
This was a story of a time set in America’s past but haunting in the realism and interaction of the characters. A reminder of who we were and how we have made our world better wrapped around a good mystery.
Wonderful book by an author who I understand this is his first book. I loved it! Would read anything he wrote, he definitely is an excellent writer
Kinda drawn out. Not exciting at all. The only reason I found it interesting is because I live in Oklahoma, where this book takes place.
1950’s Oklahoma panhandle. Sometimes laugh out loud funny. Plot predictable and could have used a little editing to tighten up but overall enjoyable and very readable. I would read this author again
Enjoyed this book. The main character is a msifit trying to solve a murder that everyone just wants to go away.
I enjoyed the narrator’s desciptions of the background, his actions, and relationships. He is a good, flawed man trying to solve his tiny town’s murder that many people do not want solved. Lots of twists and turns, but characters stay true.
Action packed. Couldn’t put it down.
I can see the characters. I can hear the characters. I can believe the characters.
Well told and a completely believable time period story.
This tale captures rural 1960’s Oklahoma–the characters, the landscape and weather, the culture. A very good “whodunit” that will have you cheering for the very flawed police chief.
This is not a run of the mill mystery. I was surprised to become so emotionally involved with the characters that I wanted to read the next book in a series, but couldn’t find any. why not?
I almost id n ot read this book. Was very much in character with the time period and the area and I was uncomfortable with the bigotry. However, I was glad I persisted.
Excellent first novel. Great character and plot development. Credible relationships and conversations between the characters. Highly recommended. 10 on a scale of 1 to 5.