Paint the Town Dead: A Judge Jackson Crain Mystery (Judge Jackson Crain Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Nancy Bell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Judge Jackson Crain Mysteries | Publication Date: August 19, 2008

From the beloved author of the Biggie Weatherford mystery series comes this third thrillin’ installment featuring Texas judge Jackson Crain.

An old love, a new flame, and the murder of a real estate tycoon thrust County Judge Jackson Crain smack in the middle of the most baffling case he has ever seen. Add a glamorous lady evangelist and a victim’s tippling wife, and suspects abound. It is only through delving into the past that Jackson is able to unravel the mystery and see the killer brought to justice.

Paint the Town Dead is a sure-to-please cozy that should win Nancy Bell many new fans.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The lovable hero of Bell's light second Judge Jackson Crain mystery (after 2005's Death Splits a Hair) lives up to his reputation for sticking his nose into any crime committed in the small East Texas town of Post Oak. When hotshot realtor Tom Delgado is found with a neat bullet hole in his head at his desk, Jackson doubts the killer is Tom's wife, Dovie, who becomes a suspect after it's revealed that the realtor's will names Sister Mary Dobbs McDermott, a flashy Dallas evangelist, as his primary beneficiary. Adding spice (and angst) is the middle-aged Jackson's sudden fling with Roxanne Kruger, a visiting artist whose rancher mother is dying. As spring blossoms into summer, the heat's on to find the real killer, who may well strike again. While some readers may wish there was more meat on the bones of this country-fried cozy, Jackson's keen sense of humor and justice will leave them eager for further adventures. (Aug.)
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Review

Praise for Nancy Bell and the Judge Jackson Crain Mysteries

“Brings to life the townsfolk (and a few corpses)...of down-home Texas. Jackson is a delightful main character.”
---Midwest Book Review on Restored to Death

“Quaint characters and locales, frequent humor, and comfy prose commend this to all collections.”
---Library Journal on Restored to Death

“Very entertaining...will please Bell’s many fans.”
---Midwest Book Review on Death Splits a Hair

“A good country cozy...Bell’s vivid portrayal of small-town Texas life will make readers feel as though they’re drinkin’ coffee with Post Oak denizens in the Wagon Wheel Café.”
---Booklist on Death Splits a Hair

“Fans of Bell’s six cozies about small-town Texan Biggie Weatherford...should saunter on down to Post Oak, Texas, and meet Judge Jackson Crain.”
---Publishers Weekly on Restored to Death

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (August 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312362811
• ISBN-13: 978-0312362812
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,045,482 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars entertaining small town regional mystery, August 20, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paint the Town Dead: A Judge Jackson Crain Mystery (Judge Jackson Crain Mysteries) (Hardcover)

In Post Oak, Texas, someone executes realtor Tom Delgado, whose corpse is found by his office desk with a bullet to his head. The police believe Tom's wife Dovie killed him when they learn his will leaves his vast estate to Dallas evangelist Sister Mary Dobbs McDermott; Dovie received almost nothing.

However, Judge Jackson Crain has some doubts that the motive was the will and wonders if business dealings could have been the motive for the homicide; Delgado as the king of local real estate had many enemies amongst the pretenders to his throne, especially those who felt he cheated them. The Judge begins his own brand of southern fried chicken investigation along side the police while also dealing with the strange behavior of his teenaged daughter Patty and starting a tryst with artist Roxanne Kruger; in town to spend time with her dying mother.

The third Judge Jackson Texas cozy (see RESTORED TO DEATH and DEATH SPLITS A HAIR) is an entertaining small town regional mystery that brings to life the townsfolk mostly through their relationship with the lead character. Jackson is a delightful main character as his personal life seems ready to engulf him with tsuris, but his calm sense of humor helps him cope and provides the audience with amusing asides. The whodunit pales next to the Judge and the colorful support cast, but sub-genre fans will not care as they will enjoy this funny Texas tale.

Harriet Klausner