July 14, 2014
Milt Kovak struggles to keep the peace while contending with forces of nature like tornadoes and his wife, Jean, in Cooper’s amiably folksy 13th mystery featuring the Prophesy County, Okla., sheriff (after 2013’s Dark Waters). The inbred, highly unstable Blanton clan provides the occasion for the crime, beginning with Darrell Blanton’s shooting of his wife, Joynell. Arresting Darrell is no problem, until Darrell’s mama, Eunice, retaliates by taking a bachelorette party hostage and demanding her son’s release. Unfortunately, he has died in his jail cell in the interim. Not only is Kovak’s wife among the hostages, but so are his deputies, Nita Skitteridge and Jasmine Hopkins. Moreover, a tornado is striking nearby Bishop, while Jean has to deal with the death of her friend Paula, whose dysfunctional family may have led to her self-destructive lifestyle. This moderately entertaining entry will be more likely appeal to established fans than win new converts. Agent: Vicky Bijur, Vicky Bijur Literary Agency.
August 1, 2014
Prophesy County, Oklahoma, has a sudden spate of dangerous cases. Sheriff Milt Kovak (Dark Waters, 2013, etc.) isn't surprised to hear that Darrell Blanton has shot and killed his wife. The Blantons are none too smart-maybe because they always marry their cousins-and often in trouble. Milt has no trouble arresting Darrell, but things go south in a hurry when Darrell's mother, Eunice, her son Earl, and her daughter Marge take over the suite at the Longbranch Inn, where Milt's wife, psychiatrist Jean McDonnell, is hosting a bachelorette party, and threaten to kill the guests unless Darrell's released. Their demand poses even bigger problems for Milt than you might expect. The hostages include Jean's visitor Paula Carmichael, a college roommate she hasn't seen for years. Paula was a brilliant, beautiful, promiscuous party animal who became a cardiac surgeon. Now she looks haggard, drinks too much and is unpleasantly snarky. An even more dire complication is that Darrell's just been found dead in his cell, whether from natural or homicidal causes. Just to add to the excitement, a monster tornado nearly destroys the nearby town where Milt and Jean's son is visiting his aunt. After Earl shoots Paula dead, Jean, who'd been annoyed with her old roommate's attitude, resolves to find out what changed her life. The sleuthing duo have a lot to accomplish and not much time to find the answers. Milt's adventures often feature interesting characters and twisty plots. This one, though, crams in so much activity that the impact of any one storyline is lost.
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August 1, 2014
Prophecy County sheriff Milt Kovak expects calls in the middle of the night, but the one bringing him to Blantonville is sure to get messy, although this domestic murder--which features one Darryl Blanton sitting on the front step with his shotgun and dead wife--seems to be cut and dried. Except Darryl's momma is in denial, so much so that she takes everyone at a bridal shower hostage because Milt's wife, Jean, is there. And this momma will start shooting someone every ten minutes if she doesn't get her son back. The problem is the only way she's going to get Darryl back is in a body bag, because he is dead in the holding cell. VERDICT Small-town troubles are never so entertaining as when Milt is on the case. Sharp humor and genial characters make his 13th outing (after Dark Waters) an enjoyable read.
Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 1, 2014
Oklahoma sheriff Milt Kovak is back in a down-home escapade that's as charming as it is entertaining. Milt's wife, Jean, is at a surprise bridal shower at a local hotel, ready to enjoy herself, when things suddenly turn hairy. Milt has arrested Darrell Blanton for killing his wife, Joynell, and the Blanton family, who are as dim-witted as they come, thanks to years of inbreeding, are furious that Milt is holding Darrell in the local pokey. They don't let things like an arrest go by without exacting revenge. So Eunice Blanton, the family matriarch, arrives at the bridal shower and takes the guestsincluding Milt's wifehostage. What Eunice doesn't know is that Darrell has died in custody. How can Milt extract his wife and resolve the hostage situation without revealing that Darrell is dead? From there, the story twists, turns, and zips to a surprising but satisfying ending. Full of good-natured humor, appealing characters, and an intricately complex but absorbing plot.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)