Between the Living and the Dead: A Dan Rhodes Mystery

Sheriff Dan Rhodes, who made his debut in 1986's Too Late to Die, is still going strong in Crider's 22nd mystery featuring the Texas lawman (after 2014's Half in Love with Artful Death). A long-abandoned house in Clearview, Tex., has a reputation for being haunted, and that is grist for series regular C.P. Benton, who tells the sheriff he plans to open Clearview Paranormal Investigations. Reports of gunshots at the house lead Rhodes and Deputy Ruth Grady to the body of meth dealer Neil Foshee. Rhodes hunts for answers from the victim's cousins, Earl and Louie Foshee, who share Neil's interest in illegal drugs. The sheriff also has to deal with poor Elberta Hovey, who says she was robbed of $9 million, and Brad Turner, who wears a tinfoil hat for protection. A loose bull and wild hogs add to the fun. As always, Rhodes figures things out, but it's the journey that makes this amiable series so entertaining. [em]Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds. (Aug.) [/em]