When rereading an older series, a few things jumped out at me. I’ll talk about them at the conclusion. But, the first thing is, Bill Crider’s Sheriff Dan Rhodes mysteries are timeless, although Shotgun Saturday Night was written in 2013. The series hasn’t lost its charm or humor, and it doesn’t depend on contemporary cultural references for the storyline. In fact, Sheriff Rhodes is a fan of old movies and westerns. There are some series authors that could learn a lot from reading Bill Crider’s works.
Bert Ramsey does odd jobs around Blacklin County, Texas, but it is surprising when he comes into the jail, and lays an arm on the desk. Then, he says there’s another one, and two legs in the truck, but they don’t belong to the same people. When Bert was clearing property owned by absentee owners in Houston, he found three boxes of arms and legs. And, they weren’t there the day before. Sheriff Rhodes has a whole mess on his hands, and Clyde Ballinger at Ballinger’s Funeral Home isn’t very helpful.
Although Bert brought the body parts to the jail, Sheriff Rhodes was as shocked as everyone else when someone killed Ramsey with a shotgun on Saturday night. A tattoo on Bert’s body reveals he was once a member of a violent motorcycle gang, Los Muertos, and members of the gang show up in Blacklin County. Murder, motorcyclists, marijuana, and the DEA are issues Rhodes usually doesn’t deal with in his day-to-day work of changing light bulbs or herding loose cattle for the community.
Each time I read a Dan Rhodes mystery, I notice something new. Poor Sheriff Rhodes is the subject of a great deal of physical violence in these books, but he’s no superhero who recovers instantly. He’s sore and injured, and he recognizes it. There’s more reason to feel sympathy for him than for many protagonists who seem to recover quickly. And, he makes mistakes, taking on jobs singlehandedly when he should ask for backup.
Speaking of backup, in this second book, Rhodes has hired a female deputy, Ruth Grady, and it shakes up the men at the jail. Hack and Lawton don’t approve of a female deputy, but Ruth is skilled at getting around them, and getting them on her side. Then, there’s Ivy Daniel. Rhodes is old-fashioned, and he’s courting Ivy. He has old-fashioned views of women, and he’s shocked to learn Ivy can ride a motorcycle, and she’s proficient at it, giving chase to the motorcyclists at one point. Crider makes a point of forcing Rhodes and his team to adjust their views of women. It’s obvious that Crider admires women, and knows they are capable of more than they’re given credit for.
The other day, a reader said Bill Crider should have been honored as a Grand Master before he died. Shotgun Saturday Night, only the second in the Dan Rhodes series, is entertaining and skillfully written. Unfortunately, entertaining mystery writers are often overlooked when it comes to awards. It’s a shame.
Shotgun Saturday Night by Bill Crider. Kindle edition, 2013.
FTC Full Disclosure – I bought the Kindle edition.
The introduction of Rapper. That poor sap left several body parts in Blacklin county, but he never seemed to learn.
I also thought it probably took a lot of discipline for Bill not to let Ruth Grady take over the whole series. Many writers would have had her be the actual protagonist while using Dan Rhodes as a framing device. We’ve all seen it happen, and those series tend to end early.
You’re still several books away from my personal favorite.
Oh, good, Glen. You’ll have to tell me when I get there. I have the next one from the library.
Yes, Bill was still getting his feet wet at this point, but you can see him with an idea of where he wanted to series to go, and the introduction of Ruth was another step in that direction. I love the little minor bits he throws in regularly, like discussing Ed McBain and other old paperbacks with Clyde Ballinger. Fun series.
This was the one where the original cover illustration was a muscled, tattooed arm. Bill used to tell people it was his arm.
Jeff, I’m so glad you and Glen are following along, and you can steer me in the right direction.
Thank you!
What a great title! I’d read it for the title alone.
Bill Crider had some great titles, Ana.
Okay. This does it. Time to re-read this wonderful series. ❤
Oh, Kaye. I hadn’t read many of the early books, so I’m enjoying the discovery!
Thanks for remembering this oldie but goodie! One of my favorites. It was actually first published in 1987 if you can believe that (!) and later in Kindle edition. “There’s a new sheriff in town,” Chris Abell, on the audible version who is doing a great job of keeping Dan Rhodes alive and kicking.
I’m reading the series from the beginning, Angela, and enjoying it. I’m so glad there’s a Kindle edition, and an audible one, to keep Dan Rhodes going!
Such glowing reviews of this series. I’m heading to NYC for a week to babysit my grandson so I downloaded the first book in the series for the plane ride. Hope to go to the Metropolitan MOA several mornings but, fingers crossed can read several book in the series during nap time. Crossing fingers for nap time not reading time!
Good luck with your trip, nap time, the books, and the Museum, Susan. I hope you get a little “you” time in there with the babysitting!
This book contends with Too Late to Die for my favorite of the books I have read by Bill Crider. The next one I have to read in the series is #8, Winning Can be Murder, so I have a ways to go in the series.
Tracy, I don’t know which one was Glen’s favorite, but I hope he speaks up when I get to it. It will be interesting to see if it was one of your favorites as well, since he said I have a couple to go.
There’s certainly no hurry in reading it!
It is an absolute delight to see that Bill getting his due through your wonderful reviews.
On my mind’s eye I picture Bill up in Heaven with Hack and Lawton guarding the Pearly Gates.
Thank you, Jerry.
Now, you made me laugh picturing Hack and Lawton on guard duty at the Pearly Gates. That cracks me up.