The Return of Sheriff Dan Rhodes

I’ve been routinely traveling to the fictional town of Clearview in Blacklin County, Texas to spend a few reading hours with the amiable Sheriff Dan Rhodes. Though I’m a Yankee, it’s not as far of a metaphysical journey as you would think because I grew up in farm country in a picturesque village in Tompkins County, New York—so I can relate.

As a youngster, on any given Saturday, Dad would take me with him to some place in town, say, Mr. Whyte’s garage, when the sheriff pulled in for whatever reason. Still can see that gun riding high on his belt and the so-very-serious look on his face. “He’d arrest his own mother,” Dad warned. 

The rest of my review can be found here. 

Bill Crider's Sheriff Dan Rhodes

I'm a big fan of Bill Crider's Sheriff Dan Rhodes mysteries and just pre-ordered a copy from Amazon of his latest. Expect  a book review in the coming weeks. In case you are unfamiliar with one of the coolest sheriff's around here was my thoughts on the first in the series.

New Issue of Mystery Scene

Terrie Farley Moran over at Women of Mystery highlights the new issue of Mystery Scene and I can already see one very good reason for grabbing a copy.

Now That's a Bookshelf, Bill Crider!

This is just one of many shelves in my office.  A mere drop in the ocean of books around there.  The top shelf holds most of the Ace Double crime novels, though the most famous one is a couple of shelves down in the middle.  Most of the rest is a sort of hodge-podge. I know what's there, even though it's all double-shelved.

Bonus: Bill performing with The Fabulous G-Strings.

Bill Crider's Evil at the Root

In this latest Sheriff Dan Rhodes adventure, Bill Crider sends the small-town Texas lawman to investigate the apparent theft of a set of false teeth from one of the elderly residents of the Sunny Dale Nursing Home. The case, which begins as one merely embarrassing ("Ah ain't got no TEEF!") quickly turns serious when the owner of the missing dentures, one Lloyd Bobbit, is found suffocated with a plastic grocery bag.

The prime suspect is a fellow Sunny Daler, Maurice Kennedy, who was known to have had no love for the cantankerous Bobbit—a feud that originated way, way back in the youth of the two men. Now Kennedy is missing—but is he the killer or another victim?

Meanwhile, Rhodes and his two attenuated jailers have been hit with a lawsuit claiming dangerous and inhumane conditions at the local jail. There's not much of a case, considering that the town's best cook provides the prisoners' meals. With all that's going on, Rhodes scarcely has time to pay proper attention to his fortunately ever-patient fiancée, Ivy Daniel.

Bill Crider's Evil at the Root: Newly released for the Kindle.

BEAT to a PULP: ROUND TWO Is Out!

Smoke 'em if you got 'em, then set your jaw and steel your stance, 'cause BEAT to a PULP: Round Two is here! It's all meat, no filler in this red-raw-and-oozing collection of twenty-nine tales of pure pulp action. You'll find aliens, gangsters, drifters, mountain men, private dicks, gun molls, loners, misfits, drunks, thugs, booze-hounds, and more, all brawling in the pages of Round Two. And that's just for starters.

Seething with left-hooks, uppercuts, kidney shots, and gut-punches aplenty, this powerhouse compilation doles out the genres, from hardboiled crime, western, and noir to sci-fi, fantasy, literary, horror, and more.

Round Two covers all-new ground with offerings from a gang of tried-and-true heavyweights and inspired up-and-comers, all savvy purveyors of pulp at the top of their game. Haymakers include a Hemingway pastiche by famed mystery author Bill Pronzini, a stunning Chandler homage by Hard Case Crime kingpin Charles Ardai, a post-war tale with a twist from James Reasoner, a zombie-horror nightmare by Bill Crider, and even more blows to the temple from such hotshots as Glenn Gray, Patricia Abbott, Chris F. Holm, Vicki Hendricks, Sean Chercover, the legendary Vin Packer, and more, more, more!

Feel up to it? Then climb back in the ring. No lines, no waiting if you order your copy of BEAT to a PULP: Round Two NOW through CreateSpace and Amazon. Kindle eBook to follow shortly.

Buy Bill's Book

Amazon.com: Gator Kill (Truman Smith Private Eye) eBook: Bill Crider: Kindle Store

Fred

Amazon.com: A Vampire Named Fred eBook: Bill Crider: Kindle Store: "When someone finally moves into the old, dark, musty house next door, two boys make an unusual friend.

'I always thought that vampires had to have names like Dracula or Vlad or Lestat, but that was before Fred moved into the house next door. In fact, I had a lot of wrong ideas about vampires, but Fred set me straight about most of them.'

In a funny, lively story the boys set out to help Fred lead a 'normal' life."

Dangerfield Westerns: The Disrespected Historical Mysteries?

Bill Crider has a great article at Criminal Element.

Well-Read?

I saw this article thanks to Bill Crider. It's called Does anyone want to be "well-read?" and is written by Roger Ebert. I think many of you would appreciate Mr. Ebert's thoughts.

A New Number One

Bill Crider has received more hits (think stats and not assassination attempts) in the first two days than any other story we have featured at BEAT to a PULP. If you haven't read "The Quick ... and The Dead" I highly recommend you do. Nigel Bird summed this dark tale up quite nicely by saying "That is really a story built up in layers to perfection. A dark and difficult subject well handled and I really felt the pain and the torn loyalties."

Rounding out BTAP's top five most successful:

2. A Rip through Time * Chris F. Holm

3. Insatiable * Hilary Davidson

4. The Instrument of Their Desire * Patrica Abbott

5. Miles to Go * Edward A. Grainger

BEAT to a PULP is Unstoppable

But don't take my word for it. Here is Mr. Cullen Gallagher.

BTAP #107: The Quick ... and The Dead by Bill Crider

Every story I accept at BEAT to a PULP I view as a winner. Even among these gems, certain tales soar to the top with an additional gifted element that is hard to nail down and characterize. After you read it, you sit back and say, “That baby was hit clean out of the ball park," which is how I see our final Weekly Punch of 2010 by Bill Crider.

I’ve enjoyed the author's entertaining Sheriff Dan Rhodes stories for years and approached him about being the year-end story for us. He sent “The Quick ... and The Dead.” Ah, you are thinking western because he is known for his oaters as much as his mysteries. Nope, Mr. Crider sent me a horrific zombie-ish story. And I would have been pleased as punch with a typical blood-and-guts romp, however, Mr. Crider elevated his story to that next level I mentioned, and he came up with a tale that'll stick with you for a long while.

It's a pleasure to say Bill Crider is at BEAT to a PULP with The Quick ... and The Dead.

#

The BEAT to a PULP webzine will return January 16, 2011 with "Serenity" by Brad Parks.

Also congrats to Sandra Seamans, Patti Abbott, and MysDawg guessing correctly in our Guess Who and Win a Free Book Contest. (MysDawg please e-mail your address to paladin-1@hotmail.com.)

Murder in the Air

I've finished reading MURDER IN THE AIR. Publishers Weekly says, "Few will be able to resist Crider's brand of broad humor, eccentric characters, and murder." I wholeheartedly agree. Mr. Crider delivers another thoroughly entertaining mystery in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series. Highlight for me was Rhodes stumbling ass-backwards into a rock pit that has been converted into a pond, discovers a clue, and then unintentionally becomes involved in a little episode known as noodling. Top fun and a fine read.