It's always time for rejoicing when Terry Shames writes a new book in the Samuel Craddock mystery series--in this case, book #11, The Troubling Death of Maddy Benson. What makes this series unique and exciting for me is the fact that it is narrated in the first person, present tense by Samuel Craddock himself, the seasoned Chief of Police of Jarrett Creek, Texas, a fictional small town based on the hometown of the author's grandparents. That means we see everything through Samuel's lens(es), including: his impressive step-by-step process to investigate and solve a mysterious death, his personal feelings and concerns about the case and about the state of the world in general; and his perspectives on the important people in his life--loved ones, friends, and coworkers. His point of view lends authenticity and depth to the story, and he becomes, over the life of the series, someone the reader trusts and enjoys, although the book can certainly be read by anyone with no previous experience with the series.

In this book, a woman who feels strongly about women's rights and tries to assist those who are denied those rights, is found dead by gunshot outdoors in a remote area. She had recently moved to Jarrett Creek with her son and daughter-in-law, both writers, hoping that a change of venue would improve the couple's problematic relationship, but no one had expected that tragedy would ensue.

Samuel has to navigate through a miasma of persons of interest, suspects, politics, danger, and emotion to get to the truth. We read a bit about his relationship with his girlfriend, Wendy, but she is not a major character in this story. I particularly enjoyed reading about two of Samuel's deputies--one a woman who exceeds all expectations and the other a man who is starting to question whether he really wants to be a police officer. Highly recommended for those who are looking for an intelligent, masterfully written police procedural without graphic violence.

My sincere thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

The Troubling Death Of Maddy Benson is a gripping thriller. Will we find out what we became of Maddy? Read this book to find out.