A Romantic Way to Die (Sheriff Dan Rhodes Mysteries, No. 11) [Mass Market Paperback]

Bill Crider (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2002

Dan Rhodes, the sheriff of Blacklin County, Texas, has seen more than his share of strange events during his time in office-most recently he exorcised a ghost from the county jail and he has always tolerated the banter between his elderly jailer and dispatcher. However, not even Hack and Lawton's friendly word play could have prepared him for the group of writers that have descended upon Blacklin County.

When Vernell Lindsey, Clearview's newly published romance novelist, decides to hold a romance writer's convention, residents think this will finally get their town on the map. They are even more excited when they learn that former Clearview resident Terry Don Coslin will headline the event-Terry Don is now the most sought after male cover model for these very novels.

Rhodes doesn't understand why so many people are interested in writing, but this becomes the least of his concerns when a local aspiring novelist is found dead in her room at the college. Was her death the work of a jealous rival? Or did her new book get a bit too close to certain people's real lives? As he investigates, Rhodes begins to learn more about the publishing industry and some sordid facts Terry Don. Is he at all connected to the murder? When another murder occurs, Rhodes receives the unwelcome aid of two aspiring novelists, eager to switch from romance to mysteries. Their theories are a little too far from the truth, but Rhodes does make some headway on his own.

Relying on his trademark common sense and cunning and the help of his deputy sheriff Ruth Grady, Rhodes is able to solve the murders although he still can't figure out why so many people want to write a novel.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Clearview, Tex., may seem a far cry from the shire-like coziness of England, but it has its smalltown gossips and eccentrics, even a ghost who for some reason prefers the county jail to a gloomy mansion, in Crider's 11th easy-going Sheriff Dan Rhodes procedural (Too Late to Die; Shotgun Saturday Night; etc.). Rhodes is a likable, low-key lawman, tough as, and when, he has to be. In this case he finds himself investigating two murders at a convention of romance novelists who have arrived in Blackin County. One of the victims is Terry Don Coslin, beefcake male star of many a paperback cover, who grew up in the county. Except for his apparently having slept with almost every woman at the convention, it's unclear why anyone wanted Terry Don dead. The first victim, Henrietta Bayam, is another story. Cattily, she let it be known that she was writing a novel in which she exposed her romance-writing colleagues for all their shortcomings. Before Rhodes is done, he will learn these ladies play rough. He is shot at, clubbed and nearly burned alive. A methodical man, the sheriff credibly solves the crimes. The author has missed a chance by presenting only the surface of the people who inhabit the romance world, though it may be he was being careful not to make anyone too identifiable. Still, there are enough Texas-style oddballs to liven up the tale. Crider fans will welcome this as eagerly as past entries. (Nov. 12)Forecast: The couple in a clutch on the cover will alert romance readers that this one is up their alley.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

You'd think peace would reign in a small Texas town like Clearview, but Sheriff Dan Rhodes tackles plenty of tough and dangerous cases. In Crider's eleventh Rhodes mystery, his laconic, canny hero finds himself in a strange parallel universe when a local gal, Vernell Lindsey, now a romance writer, and local celebrity Terry Don Coslin, who, with his Fabio looks, has become the romance cover boy, hold a romance writer's conference. A flock of chattering and colorful Nora Roberts wanna-bes convene, eager for advice, but before the first night is over, one is dead and several are murder suspects. As Rhodes investigates, he learns more than he wants to know about the vicious competition among romance writers. Hair-pulling catfights, blatant lies and jealousy, a potentially fatal explosion, and a pair of red bikini underwear all add to the mystery and the fun. Wry and witty, Crider affectionately satirizes the mania for writing and fame that, taken to extremes, can turn romance into a blood sport. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Worldwide Library; Reprint edition (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373264402
• ISBN-13: 978-0373264407
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #724,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born and brought up in Mexia (that's pronounced Muh-HAY-uh by the natives), Texas, went to college at The University of Texas and North Texas State University, and taught high school and college classes for many years. In 1992 I retired as Chair of the Division of English and Fine Arts at Alvin Community College, in Alvin, Texas. I'm married to the lovely Judy, and we have two grown children, Angela, who's an attorney in San Francisco, and Allen, who's in the music business in Austin. Other than that, I'm a pretty boring guy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great characters with fun insights into writers, November 22, 2001

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Romantic Way to Die (Sheriff Dan Rhodes Mysteries, No. 11) (Hardcover)

Sheriff Dan Rhodes finds a traffic jam at the Clearview Texas Wallmart--all caused by a romance book signing, attended by hunk cover model Terry Don Coslin. Coslin is also the star of a writers' retreat in Clearview, an event attended by both local author wanna-be's, and well know authors from around the U.S. When one of the authors ends up dead, and the draft of her novel accuses most of the other writers of theft, cheating, and sleeping their way to the top of the publishing industry, Rhodes realizes that writers can be deadly. The only problem is, with a book like that, the list of people who might want Henrietta dead is a long one--but everyone seems to have an alibi.

Rhodes' investigation into the murder is hampered by the character-filled natives of Clearview Texas, one of whom claims that Terry Don Coslin is a peeping tom while others see ghosts at the local funeral home. Still, Rhodes keeps working away at the crimes, trying to unravel the lies told by authors--generally recognized as the one group who tells lies for money.

Author Bill Crider does a fine job characterizing a good-ole-boy Texas Sheriff who is plenty smart while still being a man of the people. Crider's Sheriff Rhodes approaches life with an attitude that can't help bring a smile to the reader's face. Anyone connected to the publishing industry will also enjoy the characterization of the writers' retreat, and the perpetual love-hate relationship between published and unpublished (a.k.a. prepublished) members of the writing community.

BooksForABuck

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars #11 in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series, June 2, 2007

By 

Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Romantic Way to Die (Sheriff Dan Rhodes Mysteries, No. 11) (Hardcover)

Author Bill Crider pays homage to his fellow writers with the eleventh book in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery series.

The town of Obert, Texas, is the site of a small college campus that closed in the 1960s. Over the years a few speculators have dabbled with elaborate plans for its acreage and buildings but have always failed, for one reason or another. Now Thomas Chatterton owns it; and with the help of local writer Vernell Lindsey, the first big event for the newly-renovated space is a conference for romance writers.

But the conference is barely underway when one of the participants is found dead in her dormitory room, presumably having fallen or been pushed into a corner of the dresser. As Sheriff Dan Rhodes proceeds with his investigation, he discovers the frustrating fact that all writers lie. At least, that's true of the ones he's been questioning. When Terry Don Coslin, the muscular male model pictured on many a romance novel cover, is pushed from a third-story window, events sure take a turn for the worst. Rhodes even has a narrow escape from death himself when an explosion rocks the same building. So who could have committed these murders? One of the successful romance writers, or one of the unpublished ones? How about Vernell Lindsey, the local girl who made it big? The New York City literary agent with the police whistle in her bag? Or maybe it was Thomas Chatterton himself, even though he claims that he was underinsured for the property damage. Rhodes has to figure things out and quickly, before good old boy Billy Quentin down the street has a chance to fire off his shotgun one more time.

Not one of the stronger books in the series, but still an interesting visit to Blackin County, Texas.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Almost Arlen, January 30, 2002

By 

J. Hilles "city_girl" (the northeastern United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Romantic Way to Die (Sheriff Dan Rhodes Mysteries, No. 11) (Hardcover)

For fans of the show "King of the Hill", you'll find yourself in a comfortably familiar world. While solving two murders, Sheriff Rhodes maintains his sanity against the hare-brained schemes and dreams his townsmen and townswomen come up with. He copes with cranky old men with shotguns and red-haired romance writers with equal aplomb.

It took me a little while to get into the laconic tone, but once there, I stayed there. A quick, tasty read.