Book excerpt: The 12th mystery featuring Sheriff Dan Rhodes. WIth the author's quietly hilarious humor and fine characterization of Rhodes and the other residents of Blacklin County, TX, Crider once more shows the human side of small town law enforcement. A man dies in a fire; fireworks are involved in further threats and someone is spreading lies about the leading local figures, even including Rhodes himself. But the unflappable, commonsense lawman does his best--and a very good best it is. "Just plain good storytelling... Crider's easy prose fits the setting to a tee and brings all the smalltown schemes, quirks and characters to true and amusing life." - Publishers Weekly